Day 582: Minor-piece endgame
Target rating: 1353
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: bishop to g4 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to g8 (a8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to h7 (d3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to d8 (e8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to e2 (e1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to e4 (e1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e6 (b3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to e8 (g8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to a5 (b4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Rescue the knight to e5Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Win the hanging king on d8Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Win the hanging king on f3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Skewer: bishop to g3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Discovered attack: pawn to d3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to h2 (h7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to e2 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d1·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f2 (f1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to a6 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to b7 (f3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to b6 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to c6 (c1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to b7 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to g8 (g5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 583 →