Day 493: Winning blow
Target rating: 1240
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: knight to f6 (e4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to f7 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to b7 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to f7 (h5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to g7 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to f7 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to b1 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to b6 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f5 (e3·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Win the hanging bishop on h2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Discovered attack: queen to e7Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c1 (b1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: king to a1 (b1·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: king to e2 (e1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to d7 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: knight to e7 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to a6 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (d6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: rook to c8 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to g8 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to e7 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a7 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (a4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 494 →