Day 997: 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. Attack on the uncastled king: king to a2 (b1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to b1 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: king to f1 (g1·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: king to b2 (c1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: king to c2 (d1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: king to e1 (d1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: king to g2 (f1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to c1 (d1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to d3 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: bishop to e1 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d1 (c1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to d3 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: king to b1 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to d2 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: king to b1 (a1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: king to d2 (c1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: king to h3 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: king to e2 (d1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: king to c2 (b1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: king to f2 (g2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: king to e2 (e1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: king to a3 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: king to c2 (d1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: king to h1 (g1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 998 →