Day 915: Passed pawn
Target rating: 1931
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. Winning blow: pawn to c6 (b5·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to h6 (h4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to b6 (b2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to c4 (e5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e6 (c4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: pawn to g7 (f6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: pawn to e3 (d2·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to d5 (b4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to c7 (b5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: pawn to g7 (g6·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to b6 (b5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to a7 (a6·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to h7 (h6·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: pawn to h5 (h4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (c4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: queen to f4 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to a6 (b5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: pawn to h4 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: bishop to d6 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (e1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c5 (a3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: rook to e1 (h1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: rook to g7 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: queen to h6 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 916 →