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Day 871: 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: rook to f6 (f8)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: queen to e1 (h1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to c8 (b7·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (b3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to b6 (b5·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to b8 (b6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to g7 (g5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to b3 (a4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: rook to g8 (g7)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: queen to a6 (f1·5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: queen to e5 (g5·3)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to c8 (d6·11)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to g1 (g2)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to b6 (a4·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e4·8)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: queen to e4 (e8)Shuffle Rating 1926Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (d1·7)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to g7 (d4·2)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: rook to d7 (d1·6)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to e5 (e3·6)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: queen to f2 (g1)Shuffle Rating 1852Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: rook to b7 (c7)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to h6 (d2·6)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (f2·5)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (b7)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (c1·22)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Chess960 tactic on e2Shuffle Rating 2120Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Discovered attack: rook to a1Shuffle Rating 2160Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 3: queen to h8 (f6·4)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c8 (a6·3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 872 →