Day 991: Winning blow
Target rating: 2100
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. Winning blow: queen to c5 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to h6 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to c3 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to c2 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (b5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to d7 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to f6 (g4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to f4 (f1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to h7 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to e3 (e1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (g5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d5 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: king to c1 (b1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: king to f1 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g2 (g1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to d2 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: king to b1 (c1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: king to f1 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: king to e1 (f1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to e1 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to g2 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: king to a2 (b1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: king to h3 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 992 →