Day 694: Winning exchange
Target rating: 1496
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 b3 (a1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e1·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b2 (b1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to b6 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to a8 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d7 (c5·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to d6 (e4·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to b7 (f3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to f6 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to e7 (e2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to f6 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f7 (g6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to c3 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to c6 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (h1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to e6 (c4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (d5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to f5 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f8 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: pawn to h6 (h5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: rook to c8 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: pawn to d6 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: bishop to f6 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 695 →