Day 722: Simplification
Target rating: 1548
Lesson of the day
Simplification is how you convert an advantage: by trading queens and rooks you extinguish the counterplay and steer the game into a won endgame. The rule is simple — the side with extra material trades pieces but keeps pawns. Look for exchanges once the material is already won and your opponent is still rattling threats. The mistake is avoiding the queen trade and letting him muddy the water forever.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: knight to d6 (b5·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to b7 (b2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to f8 (f6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to b7 (a6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to e6 (h3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to e8 (e2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to a6 (c5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to d3 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to b1 (c1·37)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Fork: queen to e5 (g5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to h8 (d8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to e6 (d7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to g8 (c4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to g6 (g3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Trap the pawn on f4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to g6 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to d6 (b4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to a3 (a2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (e5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to e7 (d5·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to d2 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to g1 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f3 (e5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to d7 (g4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 723 →