Day 512: Winning exchange
Target rating: 1257
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. Winning blow: knight to e7 (f5·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to a8 (a3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: bishop to b7 (a6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (f4·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to d6 (e4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to d2 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (g5·28)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to g4 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to b7 (c5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to a6 (a3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to d5 (g8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to f7 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to c4 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (a5·26)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (c4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to e6 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to b7 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: pawn to f6 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: rook to g8 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to g6 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: knight to h3 (g5·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: bishop to b5 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Discovered attack: bishop to g8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: knight to g5 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 513 →