Day 158: Winning blow
Target rating: 803
Lesson of the day
A winning blow is a forced material gain that does not fit a single textbook motif. The general tactical recipe applies: spot loose pieces, an awkwardly placed king, overloaded lines. Go through the forcing moves in order of violence — checks, captures, threats — because most combinations start with one of them. Do not judge by feel: calculate the concrete line until the outcome is beyond doubt.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: knight to e3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g4 (f3·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b2 (a1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a3 (b2·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d2 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f2 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h6 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·30)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b1 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Fork: rook to c8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g4 (f3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b2 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a4 (b3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b1 (c1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h6 (g5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e6 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d6 (g3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f3 (g2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·45)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (b1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g2 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a3 (b2·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b5 (c3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 159 →