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Day 764: 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. Mate in 2: deflection on g8Shuffle Rating 1638Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b4 (e1·10)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: rook to e4 (e1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (h4·4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to b8 (b5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: rook to e7 (e1·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to g6 (h6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: knight to b1Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: rook to f7 (h7)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: knight to c5Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Win the hanging queen on d4Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Win the hanging queen on h5Shuffle Rating 1635Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: king to g3 (f2·7)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: king to f2 (f1·15)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: king to b1 (b2·4)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: rook to f8 (h8)Shuffle Rating 1709Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: knight to e7 (d5·6)Shuffle Rating 1710Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (a7·20)Shuffle Rating 1650Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (a4·2)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to g6 (g2·2)Shuffle Rating 1650Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (f5·5)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to h4 (f2·3)Shuffle Rating 1650Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to a2 (d5)Shuffle Rating 1675Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to e6 (a6)Shuffle Rating 1650Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: rook to h2 (h4)Shuffle Rating 1683Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 2: discovered attack on h8Shuffle Rating 1811Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (c6·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 1: pin on e6Shuffle Rating 1919Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 3: queen to b5 (d5)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c5 (c1·10)Shuffle Rating 1790Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 765 →