Day 341: Passed pawn
Target rating: 1048
Lesson of the day
A passed pawn has no enemy pawns in front of it or on the neighboring files: only pieces can stop it. Check who can blockade the pawn or catch it with the king — if nobody can, the pawn is worth a whole piece. Push the passer with your pieces supporting it, and put your rook behind it. The beginner's mistake is shoving the pawn forward unprotected, straight into a capture.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: queen to h5 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to d6 (b4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a5 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to g6 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to e3 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to b1 (a1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to e5 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to a6 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h5 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (c4·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to g6 (f5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to c4 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to a4 (a3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: pawn to c3 (b2·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (g8·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: rook to e7 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: rook to h8 (h7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to c8 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Fork: queen to d4 (d7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: rook to a8 (a2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: bishop to e6 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to f1 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Fork: knight to d3 (e5·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 342 →