Day 889: Queen endgame
Target rating: 1741
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. Winning blow: pawn to a6 (a5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to f7 (f8·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to f4 (e3·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to b3 (a4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to f6 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to b6 (d5·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to h4 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to d6 (d3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to e6 (c6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: knight to g5 (f3·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to f7 (f6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to g6 (e6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to b6 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to f8 (e6·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (f4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a7 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to b5 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: queen to g8 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to h5 (e2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to e5 (g3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: queen to b5 (b4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: rook to d8 (d3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to f1 (e1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to a7 (e3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 890 →