Day 849: Winning blow
Target rating: 1796
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 3: queen to c5 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (h8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b6 (b2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: bishop to f6 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: rook to e2 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 2: queen to h5 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (h4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to b7 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to b5 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b5 (c4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: knight to g5 (e4·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to c6 (b6·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to c7 (d5·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c1·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to h8 (c8·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to e8 (h5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to f7 (d5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to d8 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to d7 (e5·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to f7 (c4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to e7 (h4·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: king to e2 (e1·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to c6 (g2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to e6 (f5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 850 →