Day 864: Passed pawn
Target rating: 1828
Lesson of the day
A passed pawn has no enemy pawns in front of it or on the neighboring files: only pieces can stop it. Check who can blockade the pawn or catch it with the king — if nobody can, the pawn is worth a whole piece. Push the passer with your pieces supporting it, and put your rook behind it. The beginner's mistake is shoving the pawn forward unprotected, straight into a capture.
Warm-up
1. Mate in 3: pawn to f3 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: pawn to c6 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 2: queen to g6 (d3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 2: bishop to f6 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to b7 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: king to a4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: pawn to d7 (d6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: rook to b8 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: bishop to d6 (b4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: pawn to f7 (f6·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Win the hanging pawn on h5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Rescue the pawn to a7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to h5 (h4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (h2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: rook to a3 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (c6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: queen to c5 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to e4 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: queen to h6 (h7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (h3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: rook to b8 (b1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: queen to d2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: rook to e7 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 865 →