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Day 637: 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: queen to e5 (b2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to g5 (f3·7)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to d5 (e7·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (c5·20)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to c6 (e5·19)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (d4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d5 (f4·4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to f6 (f3·4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c6 (h1·9)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to e6 (f4·14)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: bishop to h4 (g3·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to f7 (e5·9)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e3 (d2·12)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to c7 (d6·6)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (f3·16)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to b8 (b5·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a6 (e2·4)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d6 (e5·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to f4 (f7)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b6 (d4)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: knight to c5Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (e4)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6 (h7·5)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to g8 (g7·5)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (a5)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (f2·6)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Discovered attack: bishop to h3 (d7)Shuffle Rating 1535Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 3: pin on h7Shuffle Rating 1569Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c8·5)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: rook to h6 (h1·4)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 638 →