Day 200: Winning blow
Target rating: 856
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: bishop to d5 (h1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (h1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (b2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f3 (g2·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to f5 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (d3·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h4 (f2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (a2·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (h4·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d5 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (c5·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to h7 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (c3·38)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d5 (c3·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: knight to f6 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c6 (g2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e1 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b5 (c3·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c1 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: pawn to f4 (g3·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to a5 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Fork: knight to e2 (f4·4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h2 (h1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 201 →