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Day 493: Winning blow

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: knight to f6 (e4·8)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to f7 (f5·2)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to b7 (b3)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to f7 (h5·2)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to g7 (c3·2)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to f7 (b3·2)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d4·2)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to b1 (d2·2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to b6 (b5·2)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f5 (e3·10)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Win the hanging bishop on h2Shuffle Rating 1246Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Discovered attack: queen to e7Shuffle Rating 1231Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c1 (b1·6)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: king to a1 (b1·16)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: king to e2 (e1·12)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (b7)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to d7 (d3·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: knight to e7 (f5·3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to a6 (c6)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (d6·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: rook to c8 (c4)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to g8 (g3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to e7 (e1·4)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a7 (f2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (a4·3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Fork: queen to g3Shuffle Rating 1362Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: knight to f1 (g3·3)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: knight to f6 (e4·26)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: rook to g6 (g1·7)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: queen to f7 (h5·5)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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