Day 979: Winning blow
Target rating: 2068
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 e7 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Chess960 tactic on d4 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Chess960 tactic on f1 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Chess960 tactic on f6 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Chess960 tactic on e6 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Chess960 tactic on d8 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Chess960 tactic on b7 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (d1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Chess960 tactic on f6 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Chess960 tactic on g8 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f7 (f1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to c5 (e6·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f7 (e8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to d5 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to f5 (e3·27)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to c4 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Chess960 tactic on h5 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Chess960 tactic on c6 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Chess960 tactic on d6 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Chess960 tactic on g4 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Chess960 tactic on f7 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Chess960 tactic on g8 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Chess960 tactic on d6 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 980 →