Day 689: Endgame tactic
Target rating: 1492
Lesson of the day
Tactics do not retire when the queens come off: forks, pins and double attacks live on in the endgame. With so little material left, every tactical loss is almost always decisive. The signs are the usual ones — undefended pieces, king and piece on one line, a pawn about to promote. Even in a "technical" ending, scan for a shot before every move, both yours and your opponent's.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: bishop to b7 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to a5 (d2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to a7 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to b6 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to f5 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to c4 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to h8 (h1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: pawn to h5 (g4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to b7 (b8·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e1·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to b7 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f8·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to g1 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Deflection: rook to d5 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: king to d4 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Discovered attack: knight to d5 (f4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (c7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: knight to a7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: knight to b6 (a4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e6 (e4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to b7 (b6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: knight to f4 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to e6 (c7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 690 →