Day 899: Winning blow
Target rating: 1896
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: queen to h8 (d8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to f4 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to f7 (d6·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to g8 (h7·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to g7 (h8·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to d3 (f1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to d6 (b8·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to a7 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to f5 (f1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: pawn to f4 (g3·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Win the hanging queen on b2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Win the hanging queen on h1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to e6 (c7·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to g5 (g8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to d7 (e8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: queen to b7 (a7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: rook to d6 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: bishop to b6 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: queen to d7 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: knight to e6 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: rook to g3 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: rook to d4 (d1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (c8·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: queen to d7 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 900 →