Day 752: Queen endgame
Target rating: 1598
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: pawn to e3 (d2·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to e3 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to e6 (g5·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (f4·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to f5 (c8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (d3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to b7 (a8·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to d5 (h5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to a5 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to e7 (f5·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Deflection: queen to e2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to c8 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: bishop to f5 (e4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Pin: king to h6Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: rook to e7 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: queen to d4 (f6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to g8 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g7 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: knight to c4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (a8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a8 (a7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: knight to g3 (e4·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: knight to f5 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 753 →