Day 242: Winning blow
Target rating: 920
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: queen to h3 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e3 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (a2·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g5 (h5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: king to g2 (g1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (c1·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b6 (c5·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c1 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g5 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: knight to e5 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e1 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (f4·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d7 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to g4 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to d2 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to f6 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (d1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to d1 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d3 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: pawn to b7 (b6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (f5·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to f1 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: king to f2 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 243 →