Day 936: Simplification
Target rating: 1983
Lesson of the day
Simplification is how you convert an advantage: by trading queens and rooks you extinguish the counterplay and steer the game into a won endgame. The rule is simple — the side with extra material trades pieces but keeps pawns. Look for exchanges once the material is already won and your opponent is still rattling threats. The mistake is avoiding the queen trade and letting him muddy the water forever.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: king to e2 (e1·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to b7 (b6·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to d2 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to c3 (d3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to g6 (b1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d1·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (c4·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to d6 (d4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Pin: queen to f3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Discovered attack: bishop to e8 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Win the hanging pawn on h6 (g7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Discovered attack: bishop to d6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Win the hanging queen on d1 (e2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: pawn to g4 (g2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: pawn to c6 (c5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to d4 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to h1 (f1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: king to e3 (e2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c6 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to c1 (h1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to d3 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f1·26)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b4 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 937 →