Day 978: Winning blow
Target rating: 2066
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 d6 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Chess960 tactic on e4 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Chess960 tactic on d8 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Chess960 tactic on e8 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Chess960 tactic on c8 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Chess960 tactic on g2 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Chess960 tactic on f8 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Pin: queen to a1 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (c3·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Chess960 tactic on b7 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Chess960 tactic on f7 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Chess960 tactic on b6 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Chess960 tactic on e6 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Chess960 tactic on g7 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Chess960 tactic on e5 (a1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Chess960 tactic on g4 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Chess960 tactic on h4 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to b8 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Chess960 tactic on b6 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to c7 (a5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Chess960 tactic on b7 (c7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b1·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to g5 (e4·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Rescue the bishop to e8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 979 →