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Day 685: 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 c7 (c2·2)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to b3 (h3·2)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: king to b1 (c1·33)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (d1·20)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to h8 (h7·9)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to a7 (a3)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: queen to d6 (g3·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h8·3)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 2: queen to c6 (c4)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to f8 (f7·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: knight to c2 (e3·3)Shuffle Rating 1480Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to e1 (e5)Shuffle Rating 1480Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to g2 (h1·4)Shuffle Rating 1480Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to f1 (f4·2)Shuffle Rating 1480Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b2 (d4·3)Shuffle Rating 1480Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: queen to d5 (d2)Shuffle Rating 1569Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (f5·5)Shuffle Rating 1489Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: queen to a4Shuffle Rating 1571Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (e7·4)Shuffle Rating 1570Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: fork on f7 (e5)Shuffle Rating 1571Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: deflection on b8Shuffle Rating 1572Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to b8 (a8)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to e1 (e6)Shuffle Rating 1480Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: pawn to d6 (e5)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to d2 (d5)Shuffle Rating 1480Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: rook to g1 (f1·6)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b5 (c3·23)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (d4·6)Shuffle Rating 1790Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 3: queen to h5 (g5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: rook to e3 (b3)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 686 →