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The 1000-day course

Day 856: Queen endgame

Target rating: 1808

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. Mate in 3: queen to f3 (g2)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: rook to g7 (h7·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: pawn to e7Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: rook to c7 (c5·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to g6 (h7·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to g8 (g7)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (g7·3)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to c5 (f5)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: rook to b8 (b7·2)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (h2·3)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: bishop to f6 (c3·6)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to d7 (h7·4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (d3·11)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to a7 (a8·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to d8 (e7·5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to d7 (c5·22)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to b6 (c4·15)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to e7 (e5·6)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (g2·22)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to f7 (f8·6)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to g7 (h7·8)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c1·28)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to e7 (f6·3)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to g8 (b8)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to f8 (f6·5)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: bishop to c7 (b8)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: pawn to f8 (f7·6)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: queen to f2 (f1·3)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: queen to b5 (e2·6)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (e5·2)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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