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Day 849: 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 3: queen to c5 (c1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (h8·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b6 (b2·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: bishop to f6 (g5·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: rook to e2 (e1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 2: queen to h5 (e2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (h4·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to b7 (b8)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to b5 (e2·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b5 (c4·4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: knight to g5 (e4·11)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to c6 (b6·8)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to c7 (d5·12)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c1·25)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to h8 (c8·5)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to e8 (h5·7)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h2)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to f7 (d5·5)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to d8 (f6)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to d7 (e5·20)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to f7 (c4·3)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to e7 (h4·9)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: king to e2 (e1·18)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to c6 (g2·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to e6 (f5·7)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 3: rook to h7 (g7·3)Shuffle Rating 1990Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Fork: queen to f8 (f3)Shuffle Rating 2048Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 3: double attack on h6Shuffle Rating 2115Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: queen to h6 (h4·3)Shuffle Rating 1954Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (g8·3)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 850 →