Day 534: Passed pawn
Target rating: 1292
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: queen to e7 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to f7 (g6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d7 (c5·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to e5 (f7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to e6 (a6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: king to a2 (b1·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to f1 (g1·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: pawn to f5 (g4·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to c6 (d5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (b4·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to e6 (e5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (d5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: bishop to g6 (b1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: rook to a7 (b7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to b8 (b3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Castling-960 to the rescue on d1 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 535 →