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Day 989: 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 e8 (e7·3)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d6·4)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Chess960 tactic on h6 (c1)Shuffle Rating 2400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Trap the queen on c3Shuffle Rating 2496Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Skewer: queen to f2Shuffle Rating 2506Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
6. Deflection: queen to d6 (c7)Shuffle Rating 2514Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
7. Discovered attack: bishop to c3Shuffle Rating 2507Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
8. Rescue the pawn to e3Shuffle Rating 2486Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: deflection on d1Shuffle Rating 2530Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
10. Win the hanging bishop on f8Shuffle Rating 2487Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Pin: queen to a1 (e5)Shuffle Rating 2491Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Win the hanging king on f2Shuffle Rating 2493Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Win the hanging queen on d3Shuffle Rating 2510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Win the hanging queen on e3 (c3)Shuffle Rating 2521Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Discovered attack: knight to h6 (f5·3)Shuffle Rating 2490Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: king to g7Shuffle Rating 2492Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Rescue the rook to d1Shuffle Rating 2496Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: fork on e4Shuffle Rating 2451Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: queen to h6 (g6·4)Shuffle Rating 2455Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Fork: knight to f2 (d3)Shuffle Rating 2553Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Rescue the knight to e5 (g6)Shuffle Rating 2583Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Rescue the rook to d1 (d8)Shuffle Rating 2559Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Fork: rook to f2 (f8)Shuffle Rating 2589Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Rescue the rook to d5 (d1)Shuffle Rating 2553Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Win the hanging queen on a8 (d5·2)Shuffle Rating 2575Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Discovered attack: pawn to b3 (a4)Shuffle Rating 2559Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
27. Rescue the rook to e3Shuffle Rating 2560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Rescue the king to h3Shuffle Rating 2537Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Win the hanging king on c2Shuffle Rating 2547Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
30. Fork: knight to c3 (e4·3)Shuffle Rating 2567Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 990 →