Day 893: Passed pawn
Target rating: 1896
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: rook to b6 (f6·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: pawn to f4 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: bishop to b7 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: bishop to h7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: rook to b7 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to c6 (d5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: rook to c6 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to d3 (d1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to d7 (f7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (g2·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: pawn to a4 (a2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to g7 (g6·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to a7 (a6·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to h7 (h6·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: pawn to b5 (b4·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: knight to f3 (e5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: fork on d4 (f5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: double attack on h7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: bishop to c5 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: rook to g7 (g1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to d8 (e7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to e7 (d7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: knight to f2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to c3 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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