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The 1000-day course

Day 793: Endgame tactic

Target rating: 1696

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. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (f5·2)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: rook to g7 (g6·2)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to a6 (a5)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to h5 (h1)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to b5 (c6)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: knight to h6Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: bishop to c4Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: rook to a8 (a1)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to f8 (b4)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: queen to f8 (g8·3)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 3: pawn to f5 (g4)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: king to e2 (f2)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: bishop to b4 (c5)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: knight to g6 (h8)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: rook to g3 (g1)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to f7 (e7·3)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to g6 (f5·4)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to c8 (d6·10)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (f1·18)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to h6 (g4·4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to b6 (d5·14)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f1·18)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to h2 (h8·2)Analysis
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Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (b2·9)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (g3·5)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 2: knight to f5 (d6)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
27. Skewer: bishop to b4Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 3: knight to e3 (c2)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: king to d6Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
30. Discovered attack: rook to g3 (g2)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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