Day 986: Winning blow
Target rating: 2087
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 c6 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Chess960 tactic on b7 (b4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Chess960 tactic on g4 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to e7 (h7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Chess960 tactic on c7 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Chess960 tactic on b7 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Chess960 tactic on c7 (f7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Chess960 tactic on c2 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Chess960 tactic on b7 (e4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to f6 (e6·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Chess960 tactic on g3 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Chess960 tactic on e6 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Chess960 tactic on a6 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Chess960 tactic on f5 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Chess960 tactic on d6 (d1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Chess960 tactic on d3 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to f6 (d5·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Chess960 tactic on f7 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Chess960 tactic on a8 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Chess960 tactic on b8 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Chess960 tactic on d7 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Chess960 tactic on e6 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to g3 (e1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Chess960 tactic on b7 (e4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: pawn to e8 (e7·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 987 →