Day 937: Passed pawn
Target rating: 1986
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. Win the hanging queen on d6 (e7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to c1 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Win the hanging queen on f2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (c6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Rescue the king to f1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to g4 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Win the hanging rook on f1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to h5 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to g7 (f5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to c6 (h1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: pawn to e6 (e5·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·26)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Skewer: pawn to f3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Chess960 tactic on h5 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Pin: pawn to d7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Win the hanging king on h7 (g8·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Win the hanging bishop on f3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Rescue the king to b6 (c7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to f4 (c1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Trap the pawn on e5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to f2 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Win the hanging queen on c3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: pawn to c6 (c5·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Fork: queen to e5 (e7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 938 →