Day 714: Endgame tactic
Target rating: 1378
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: pawn to f4 (g3·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (h1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: king to g2 (f1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a7 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (h1·33)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d3 (c2·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d1·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to a6 (d6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (c5·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to f2 (g1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to g6 (g7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: king to g2 (g1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: king to a2 (b1·43)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to d1 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to a8 (f8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to f7 (g6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to e5 (d5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to c6 (d4·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (g2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (a6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to e7 (g5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to g5 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g6 (f4·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to b5 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to b6 (c6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 715 →