Day 595: Winning blow
Target rating: 1218
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: rook to a7 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to a6 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to b5 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to c7 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g4 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to h7 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to d7 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to b6 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to a5 (d8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to c5 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to d7 (c7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to d3 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g2 (h1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to g2 (g1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e1 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f7 (g6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to h7 (g7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to c7 (h7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (d3·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to h7 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f6 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to a7 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 596 →