Day 468: Minor-piece endgame
Target rating: 1203
Lesson of the day
A minor-piece endgame leaves only bishops and knights with pawns, and geometry decides. The bishop loves an open board and play on both wings; the knight loves fixed pawns and outpost squares. Check which color squares the pawns stand on and where the knight can actually reach in time. Practical tip: against a knight, spread the play across both flanks — short legs cannot cover everything.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to e6 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to c8 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to f6 (b2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to a6 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to g5 (e7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to d7 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to d6 (d2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to f8 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: bishop to g3 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to f5 (e3·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (e3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Fork: pawn to c4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: king to b2 (c1·27)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to f3 (e2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e3 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Skewer: queen to d1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to e7 (f7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d1 (f1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to h2 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (d1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: rook to c5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Skewer: bishop to e3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 469 →