Day 911: Queen endgame
Target rating: 1921
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. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (b2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: queen to b6 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to b8 (d6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: bishop to g7 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to c8 (e7·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: bishop to a7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to a8 (h1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to d8 (c6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to d6 (f8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to a8 (a6·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to e8 (c6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to d8 (e7·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Pin: queen to c7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to c6 (a4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to d8 (f6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: rook to f3 (f8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (c5·27)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: rook to g7 (g6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: rook to d3 (a3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: rook to g8 (b8·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: deflection on c5Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: rook to g8 (g6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: rook to d8 (d1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (d4·28)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: knight to f6 (e4·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 912 →