Day 966: Winning blow
Target rating: 1885
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. Chess960 tactic on g6 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (f4·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Chess960 tactic on e8 (e7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Chess960 tactic on c6 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d6·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Chess960 tactic on f7 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Deflection: knight to h5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to e8 (e5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Chess960 tactic on f6 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Fork: bishop to f7 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Rescue the bishop to g7Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Rescue the knight to e4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Chess960 tactic on g6 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Fork: knight to f3 (e5·4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Chess960 tactic on g8 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: rook to e7 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Chess960 tactic on d7 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: queen to e5 (g5·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Chess960 tactic on a8 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Fork: queen to c3 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Chess960 tactic on e5 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to b5 (a3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Chess960 tactic on c6 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Fork: pawn to g5 (g6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Chess960 tactic on f3 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 967 →