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Day 987: 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 g3 (f2·2)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Chess960 tactic on c6 (d5·3)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Chess960 tactic on e5 (g3)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Chess960 tactic on e6 (f7)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Chess960 tactic on e8 (e6)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Chess960 tactic on f4 (f1)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Chess960 tactic on d2 (d1·3)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Chess960 tactic on g7 (c3·2)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Chess960 tactic on h7 (b1)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Chess960 tactic on h8 (b2)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d3·3)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Chess960 tactic on e4 (e2)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Chess960 tactic on g2 (f4)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Chess960 tactic on d6 (b5)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Chess960 tactic on e6 (c8·2)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d7 (c6·5)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Chess960 tactic on h8 (d8)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g8 (e8)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Chess960 tactic on d8 (d3)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Chess960 tactic on h8 (h3)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Chess960 tactic on d8 (f8)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Chess960 tactic on b7 (g7)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b7 (h1·13)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Pin: knight to f4 (h3)Shuffle Rating 2330Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Rescue the queen to h6 (f8)Shuffle Rating 2420Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Win the hanging king on g7 (h6)Shuffle Rating 2415Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Chess960 tactic on c6 (c5)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: rook to b3 (a3·8)Shuffle Rating 2340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Chess960 tactic on b8 (d6·2)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h5 (e2·7)Shuffle Rating 2340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 988 →