Day 393: Passed pawn
Target rating: 1112
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: knight to c5 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (b3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to f8 (f4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a7 (a5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to d7 (c5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to a8 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g6 (b1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to g8 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: bishop to c7 (g3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (a1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to g3 (h2·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to e7 (c6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g4 (e3·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to e2 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: pawn to h5 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to f5 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (f2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c5 (d3·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to d3 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g1 (h1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d2 (d1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to f6 (e4·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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