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Day 953: Queen endgame

Lesson of the day

Queen endgames are treacherous: the queen reaches everywhere, and one slip turns a win into perpetual check. The signs are few pawns, exposed kings, and checks hanging in the air. Tuck your king away early, and use your own checks to bring the queen closer or push your passer with tempo. The typical mistake is grabbing pawns while leaving your king exposed to endless checks.

Warm-up

1. Winning blow: rook to f6 (f8)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b6 (b2·4)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to a7 (a1·13)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to d7 (h7·5)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c2·4)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d7·7)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to f8 (h8·3)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to f6 (d5·18)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d8·7)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to e7 (g5·4)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: queen to d4 (f4·2)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to c8 (a8·6)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to e7 (d7·5)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to d4 (d2·6)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Win the hanging queen on h6Shuffle Rating 2215Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to c6 (b6·3)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to e5 (f3·21)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to d5 (c3·21)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to f8 (f7·8)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f1·29)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to e5 (e1·14)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to e7 (e3·10)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to e6 (f7·4)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to b7 (g7)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to c5 (e5·2)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (d3·2)Shuffle Rating 2210Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Discovered attack: pawn to e5 (f4)Shuffle Rating 2230Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 2: rook to a4 (d4)Shuffle Rating 2289Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: queen to f8 (e7·7)Shuffle Rating 2150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: queen to d4 (a4)Shuffle Rating 2170Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 954 →