Day 871: Winning blow
Target rating: 1846
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: rook to f6 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: queen to e1 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to c8 (b7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to b6 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to b8 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to g7 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to b3 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: rook to g8 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: queen to a6 (f1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to e5 (g5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to c8 (d6·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to g1 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to b6 (a4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: queen to e4 (e8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (d1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to g7 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: rook to d7 (d1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to e5 (e3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: queen to f2 (g1)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: rook to b7 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to h6 (d2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (f2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 872 →