Day 179: Winning blow
Target rating: 836
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. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (d3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d3 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: pawn to b5 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h4 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g6 (h5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (a1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d7 (e5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (g3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (a2·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to a6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6 (h7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (c2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g4 (e3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d2 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a2 (b1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: deflection on e8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e5 (d4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (h2·26)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: pawn to a8 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·105)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e2 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to a8 (a7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g4 (f2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to h6 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
26. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h8 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (e4·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f7 (g6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 180 →