Day 874: Endgame tactic
Target rating: 1853
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: rook to d8 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: rook to c6 (d6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: rook to e7 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: knight to c5 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (f7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (f6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: pawn to b6 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: pawn to f7 (f6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: pawn to f6 (e5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: rook to b3 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to h4 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to h5 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (g3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: knight to c5 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: knight to d7 (e5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to e7 (g7·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to d6 (f7·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (f7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (e5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to e7 (b4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (e4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d1·32)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 875 →