Day 971: Only move
Target rating: 2048
Lesson of the day
An only move is a position where everything loses except one single continuation. You cannot play "by hand" here: run through fundamentally different defenses — run away, block, trade, counterattack — and discard the ones that fail. The hallmark of these puzzles is that the obvious moves lose quickly while the solution often looks strange. First understand exactly what the threat is — then the one saving move reveals itself.
Warm-up
1. Chess960 tactic on e4 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Chess960 tactic on h5 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Chess960 tactic on d7 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to h6 (c1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (e4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to g5 (h6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Chess960 tactic on f7 (g8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Chess960 tactic on c4 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Chess960 tactic on a7 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Chess960 tactic on a8 (a7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Pin: queen to h3 (h8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: queen to d8 (b6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Win the hanging rook on d3 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Win the hanging knight on a8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Rescue the rook to e5Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Chess960 tactic on g7 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Chess960 tactic on f6 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Chess960 tactic on d4 (e3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g7 (f6·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b6 (d4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to a6 (d3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Pin: rook to b4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to c8 (c4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to f6 (d7·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to d7 (f6·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 972 →