Day 634: King march
Target rating: 1420
Lesson of the day
The king march: in the endgame the king is a fighting piece, and often it is his journey forward that wins. It is time to march when the queens are off and checks hold no danger — the king attacks pawns, escorts the passer, takes squares away. The telltale sign of the theme is several king moves in a row. Plan the full route in advance using the rule of the square, and do not let the enemy king grab the opposition.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (f3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (f7·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (d6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 2: bishop to d7 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: rook to h8 (h4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (d3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (d4·30)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (d8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: king to a2 (b1·31)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: king to g3 (f2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: king to c3 (d2·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: king to b2 (c1·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to b1 (a1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to h3 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to c8 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to g7 (h6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to f4 (c1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to h6 (e3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to d7 (e7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (b4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: king to b2 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 635 →