Day 434: Winning exchange
Target rating: 1014
Lesson of the day
A winning exchange is a forced series of captures on one square that leaves you ahead in material. It is pure arithmetic: count the attackers and defenders of the square and note the value of every piece in the queue. Capture in the right order — cheap pieces first, expensive ones later — or a winning trade turns into a losing one. The classic error is stopping the count halfway and missing the opponent's final recapture.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a4 (b3·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b5 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g8 (g4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a5 (b3·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·107)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b2 (a1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e5 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d5 (e3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (e2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to g6 (g3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (f3·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to e6 (h3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a3 (c1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e6 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to h3 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c6 (a4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to g7 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g2 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h4 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to e7 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to d5 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: king to a1 (b2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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