Day 309: Winning blow
Target rating: 996
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: bishop to h8 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e3 (d2·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (d3·50)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to h3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to b8 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f3 (g2·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f5 (d4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e2 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to h5 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c6 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c6 (c4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g2 (g1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to e5 (f7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Discovered attack: queen to c8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Discovered attack: pawn to c3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to g4 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to e2 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: pawn to b5 (a4·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to d6 (e5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to c6 (a5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to e6 (e1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a7 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to e8 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 310 →