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Day 975: 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. Chess960 tactic on d7 (e7)Shuffle Rating 2350Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to c7 (c5·5)Shuffle Rating 2350Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Chess960 tactic on f6 (d4·4)Shuffle Rating 2350Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Chess960 tactic on a7 (b7)Shuffle Rating 2350Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to f7 (c7·3)Shuffle Rating 2350Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (d3·3)Shuffle Rating 2350Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Chess960 tactic on a6 (d3)Shuffle Rating 2350Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Chess960 tactic on g6 (h7·2)Shuffle Rating 2350Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Chess960 tactic on g7 (d4)Shuffle Rating 2350Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (b4·11)Shuffle Rating 2350Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Rescue the pawn to f3Shuffle Rating 2315Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Win the hanging king on d2 (e2)Shuffle Rating 2319Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Discovered attack: queen to d4 (g7)Shuffle Rating 2320Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Rescue the pawn to g4Shuffle Rating 2336Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Rescue the king to h2Shuffle Rating 2339Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Chess960 tactic on d6 (f4)Shuffle Rating 2350Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Chess960 tactic on e6 (d5·3)Shuffle Rating 2350Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: queen to e8 (h5)Shuffle Rating 2354Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Win the hanging rook on d6Shuffle Rating 2355Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Rescue the king to f3Shuffle Rating 2356Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Rescue the pawn to b6 (a7)Shuffle Rating 2360Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Rescue the king to f8Shuffle Rating 2366Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to d1 (c1)Shuffle Rating 2306Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Chess960 tactic on f6 (f5)Shuffle Rating 2310Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Chess960 tactic on d7 (c8)Shuffle Rating 2310Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: king to h1 (g1·38)Shuffle Rating 2340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 2: bishop to d4 (g7)Shuffle Rating 2346Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
28. Fork: queen to d5 (e5)Shuffle Rating 2392Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Chess960 tactic on d7 (a4)Shuffle Rating 2350Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Chess960 tactic on c5 (c3)Shuffle Rating 2350Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 976 →