Day 583: Queen endgame
Target rating: 1355
Lesson of the day
Queen endgames are treacherous: the queen reaches everywhere, and one slip turns a win into perpetual check. The signs are few pawns, exposed kings, and checks hanging in the air. Tuck your king away early, and use your own checks to bring the queen closer or push your passer with tempo. The typical mistake is grabbing pawns while leaving your king exposed to endless checks.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (f4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to b8 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (b5·27)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to c6 (g2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to e3 (d1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to d5 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to g6 (g5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to c8 (d6·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Fork: rook to d7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Fork: queen to f4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: king to b3 (a2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (g1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Fork: rook to e4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to h8 (h4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b6 (f2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to g2 (h2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (g8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Fork: bishop to e5 (d4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (d2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Fork: queen to d3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to g8 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (g4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 584 →