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The 1000-day course

Day 482: Endgame tactic

Target rating: 1225

Lesson of the day

Tactics do not retire when the queens come off: forks, pins and double attacks live on in the endgame. With so little material left, every tactical loss is almost always decisive. The signs are the usual ones — undefended pieces, king and piece on one line, a pawn about to promote. Even in a "technical" ending, scan for a shot before every move, both yours and your opponent's.

Warm-up

1. Winning blow: rook to f6 (g6)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to e5 (b5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to c2 (d3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to d1 (e2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to b2 (b1·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to e6 (g4·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to c5 (d4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to c8 (c1)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to e5 (e4·4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to c8 (c6)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Fork: knight to g6 (e5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to g2 (g1·6)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to h3 (g2·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to f1 (f2·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to f1 (a1·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to f1 (e1·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to f3 (f6)Analysis
h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Deflection: queen to e1Analysis
h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: knight to d7 (c5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: pawn to f7 (f6·9)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (g5·12)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to a3Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: bishop to f6 (b2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to d1 (h1·5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a7 (a6·5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 2: bishop to g7 (f6)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 3: rook to h7 (h2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Rescue the king to a6Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d7)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: queen to a5 (a6·5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 483 →