Day 987: Winning blow
Target rating: 1939
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 g3 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Chess960 tactic on c6 (d5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Chess960 tactic on e5 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Chess960 tactic on e6 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Chess960 tactic on e8 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Chess960 tactic on f4 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Chess960 tactic on d2 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Chess960 tactic on g7 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Chess960 tactic on h7 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Chess960 tactic on h8 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Chess960 tactic on e4 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Chess960 tactic on g2 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Chess960 tactic on d6 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Chess960 tactic on e6 (c8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d7 (c6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Chess960 tactic on h8 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g8 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Chess960 tactic on d8 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Chess960 tactic on h8 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Chess960 tactic on d8 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Chess960 tactic on b7 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b7 (h1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Pin: knight to f4 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Rescue the queen to h6 (f8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 988 →