Day 764: Winning blow
Target rating: 1628
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. Mate in 2: deflection on g8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b4 (e1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: rook to e4 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (h4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to b8 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: rook to e7 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to g6 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: knight to b1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: rook to f7 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: knight to c5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Win the hanging queen on d4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Win the hanging queen on h5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: king to g3 (f2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: king to f2 (f1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: king to b1 (b2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: rook to f8 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: knight to e7 (d5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (a7·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (a4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to g6 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (f5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to h4 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to a2 (d5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to e6 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: rook to h2 (h4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 765 →