Day 866: Minor-piece endgame
Target rating: 1833
Lesson of the day
A minor-piece endgame leaves only bishops and knights with pawns, and geometry decides. The bishop loves an open board and play on both wings; the knight loves fixed pawns and outpost squares. Check which color squares the pawns stand on and where the knight can actually reach in time. Practical tip: against a knight, spread the play across both flanks — short legs cannot cover everything.
Warm-up
1. Mate in 3: pawn to c5 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (a6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to g5 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (d3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to b6 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: rook to d7 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: bishop to b5 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (f7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to c7 (b7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: queen to h5 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Win the hanging knight on c2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Fork: bishop to d2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: knight to d2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to g4 (f3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Deflection: pawn to b4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Deflection: bishop to g2 (c6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: queen to c7 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to a6 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Pin: queen to g5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: bishop to c6 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: rook to c8 (c1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: knight to d6 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: queen to a8 (a7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: rook to b4 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: queen to f8 (e7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 867 →