Day 507: Endgame tactic
Target rating: 1249
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: knight to b6 (d5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to f3 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to b8 (c6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (g2·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to e5 (d3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: king to c1 (b1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: king to c2 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to f1 (g1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to a2 (b1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: king to b2 (b1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: king to f2 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to h3 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: king to d1 (c1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to d6 (e4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: rook to g5 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: king to h3 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (f6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (b1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f2 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: king to h2 (g1·33)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to h7 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to h8 (h7·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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