Day 677: Queen endgame
Target rating: 1473
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. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to g4 (d1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to f7 (g8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to f8 (d8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: pawn to h7 (g6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (e2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to g8 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to d4 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to e3 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to e6 (d6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to d6 (b8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to a8 (d5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to g6 (h6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: queen to f7 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: pawn to g4 (g2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (d5·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: knight to c8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to f7 (e6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (e6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to b3 (a3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (e4·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: knight to c7 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 678 →