Day 451: Passed pawn
Target rating: 1176
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: pawn to c6 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to e3 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: king to f1 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to e2 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to g3 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: king to g1 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (d4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to d1 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: pawn to c7 (c6·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to d7 (d6·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (e5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to g4 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to b4 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d5 (g2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: bishop to e2 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to a8 (c7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d3 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: knight to c6 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to d7 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 452 →