Day 963: Endgame tactic
Target rating: 2027
Lesson of the day
Tactics do not retire when the queens come off: forks, pins and double attacks live on in the endgame. With so little material left, every tactical loss is almost always decisive. The signs are the usual ones — undefended pieces, king and piece on one line, a pawn about to promote. Even in a "technical" ending, scan for a shot before every move, both yours and your opponent's.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: queen to f7 (a7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to c5 (d3·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to c5 (e4·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to e5 (c4·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b8·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to f1 (b1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: pawn to c7 (c6·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: pawn to d7 (d6·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to g3 (e1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to e3 (b3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: knight to e5 (f3·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to g4 (g3·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Fork: knight to d5 (c3·4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Fork: rook to c8 (c7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Chess960 tactic on d5 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to b7 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: pawn to d7 (d6·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: pawn to b6 (b5·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to h4 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to b6 (f2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to b1 (f1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: pawn to b6 (b5·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to g6 (g5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: pawn to e6 (e5·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to c6 (c3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 964 →