Day 976: Winning blow
Target rating: 2061
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 d8 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Chess960 tactic on b8 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Chess960 tactic on h5 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Chess960 tactic on c7 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Chess960 tactic on g5 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Chess960 tactic on a8 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Chess960 tactic on b8 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Chess960 tactic on e7 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Chess960 tactic on f8 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to c8 (c6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Chess960 tactic on g8 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Chess960 tactic on h7 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Chess960 tactic on h5 (h3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to d6 (a6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Chess960 tactic on f6 (c3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Chess960 tactic on d7 (d1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Chess960 tactic on b7 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Chess960 tactic on e5 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Chess960 tactic on g7 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Chess960 tactic on e8 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Chess960 tactic on a7 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to b6 (b4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to e7 (e1·33)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to g5 (e6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to h7 (e7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 977 →