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Day 936: Simplification

Lesson of the day

Simplification is how you convert an advantage: by trading queens and rooks you extinguish the counterplay and steer the game into a won endgame. The rule is simple — the side with extra material trades pieces but keeps pawns. Look for exchanges once the material is already won and your opponent is still rattling threats. The mistake is avoiding the queen trade and letting him muddy the water forever.

Warm-up

1. Winning blow: king to e2 (e1·20)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to b7 (b6·14)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to d2 (h2)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to c3 (d3·4)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to g6 (b1·11)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d1·24)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f6·5)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e6·5)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (c4·15)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to d6 (d4·6)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Pin: queen to f3Shuffle Rating 2089Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Discovered attack: bishop to e8 (g6)Shuffle Rating 2112Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Win the hanging pawn on h6 (g7)Shuffle Rating 2121Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Discovered attack: bishop to d6Shuffle Rating 2224Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Win the hanging queen on d1 (e2)Shuffle Rating 2233Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: pawn to g4 (g2·7)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: pawn to c6 (c5·11)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to d4 (b4)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to h1 (f1·7)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: king to e3 (e2·5)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c6 (c4)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to c1 (h1·7)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to d3 (e5)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f1·26)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b4 (d2·2)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Chess960 tactic on c7 (c8)Shuffle Rating 2120Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Chess960 tactic on e5 (d4)Shuffle Rating 2250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 3: queen to f8 (g8·5)Shuffle Rating 2278Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Chess960 tactic on h5Shuffle Rating 2120Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: rook to b7 (c7·5)Shuffle Rating 1990Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 937 →