Day 422: Passed pawn
Target rating: 1145
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: rook to d8 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to f2 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: pawn to b4 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to g1 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·55)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (g2·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h8 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to e7 (d5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to b5 (c3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to d7 (e5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: pawn to d5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to a7 (a6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (c4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: pawn to a7 (a6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c5 (b3·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to d6 (b5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to f6 (b2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to e4 (c5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to d5 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (g1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to d1 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to d3 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: bishop to d4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: knight to c7 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 423 →