Day 632: Passed pawn
Target rating: 1417
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: bishop to c5 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to c2 (g6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to a6 (c5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to g2 (g1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to h8 (e5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (d4·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to a1 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to d2 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (c4·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to d5 (a8·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: pawn to a7 (a6·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to g7 (g6·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to a6 (a5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: pawn to h4 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Rescue the pawn to e4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d2 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to a6 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e3 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (b4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to d3 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to h8 (h5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to g4 (g3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: king to h1 (g1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to h6 (e3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 633 →