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Day 971: Only move

Lesson of the day

An only move is a position where everything loses except one single continuation. You cannot play "by hand" here: run through fundamentally different defenses — run away, block, trade, counterattack — and discard the ones that fail. The hallmark of these puzzles is that the obvious moves lose quickly while the solution often looks strange. First understand exactly what the threat is — then the one saving move reveals itself.

Warm-up

1. Chess960 tactic on e4 (h1)Shuffle Rating 2250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Chess960 tactic on h5 (e2)Shuffle Rating 2250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Chess960 tactic on d7 (d2)Shuffle Rating 2250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to h6 (c1·7)Shuffle Rating 2250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (e4·4)Shuffle Rating 2250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to g5 (h6·4)Shuffle Rating 2250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Chess960 tactic on f7 (g8·2)Shuffle Rating 2250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Chess960 tactic on c4 (f1)Shuffle Rating 2250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Chess960 tactic on a7 (c7)Shuffle Rating 2250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Chess960 tactic on a8 (a7·2)Shuffle Rating 2250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Pin: queen to h3 (h8)Shuffle Rating 2251Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: queen to d8 (b6·3)Shuffle Rating 2255Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Win the hanging rook on d3 (c3)Shuffle Rating 2286Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Win the hanging knight on a8Shuffle Rating 2289Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Rescue the rook to e5Shuffle Rating 2296Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Chess960 tactic on g7 (h7)Shuffle Rating 2250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Chess960 tactic on f6 (e5·2)Shuffle Rating 2250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Chess960 tactic on d4 (e3·3)Shuffle Rating 2250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g7 (f6·8)Shuffle Rating 2250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b6 (d4·8)Shuffle Rating 2250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to a6 (d3·5)Shuffle Rating 2200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Pin: rook to b4Shuffle Rating 2203Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to c8 (c4·3)Shuffle Rating 2290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to f6 (d7·9)Shuffle Rating 2290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to d7 (f6·13)Shuffle Rating 2290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c7 (c6·7)Shuffle Rating 2290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 3: pin on h2Shuffle Rating 2313Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
28. Pin: queen to f7 (h5·2)Shuffle Rating 2371Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: queen to a4 (a6·2)Shuffle Rating 2290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: queen to e8 (c6·6)Shuffle Rating 2290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 972 →