Day 758: Simplification
Target rating: 1613
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: queen to h8 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c7 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (c3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (d6·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (g2·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·57)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: pawn to g7 (f6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to e4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to b6 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: rook to b8 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to a4 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (e4·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to h7 (h6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to e4 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Fork: queen to f5 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: bishop to e6 (c8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Trap the rook on b1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (d5·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: bishop to b6 (d4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to g5 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: rook to g4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: bishop to e2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a8 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to b7 (b6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: rook to a6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 759 →