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The 1000-day course

Day 985: Winning blow

Target rating: 2084

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 c4 (d3·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Chess960 tactic on c7 (g7)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Chess960 tactic on a6 (b5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Chess960 tactic on f5 (h3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Chess960 tactic on d3 (d1)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Chess960 tactic on h4 (g4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Chess960 tactic on e6 (e1·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Chess960 tactic on g5 (g7)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Chess960 tactic on e7 (d6)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Chess960 tactic on d6 (f5·4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Chess960 tactic on b6 (e3·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Chess960 tactic on b7 (f3·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Chess960 tactic on c8 (c7·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Chess960 tactic on d7 (f7)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Chess960 tactic on e1 (d1·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Chess960 tactic on e6 (f5·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Chess960 tactic on e7 (d5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Chess960 tactic on g6 (f5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Chess960 tactic on g7 (g4·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Chess960 tactic on e6 (g4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Chess960 tactic on f6 (e5·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Chess960 tactic on d6 (c4·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Chess960 tactic on b7 (c7·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c6 (h1·10)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Chess960 tactic on g7 (f6)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Chess960 tactic on a5 (b5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g5 (g3·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Deflection: rook to h3Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Chess960 tactic on g8 (b3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Chess960 tactic on e6 (g4·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 986 →