Day 221: Winning blow
Target rating: 888
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: queen to a6 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f2 (e1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a4 (d1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (f4·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a4 (c3·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b6 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·62)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to f3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a2 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to d6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g6 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: bishop to b4 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to c4 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (g2·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (d4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Skewer: queen to h1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Skewer: rook to a5 (a6·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Skewer: queen to h8 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Skewer: rook to a6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (c3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Skewer: rook to d8 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Fork: rook to f2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to d5 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (h1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to e3 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 222 →