Day 117: Trapped piece
Target rating: 753
Lesson of the day
Trapping a piece means the attacked piece has no safe square left — it simply perishes. Do not chase it around; build a cage instead: cut off the escape squares with pawns and pieces first, and attack last. The typical victim has wandered deep into your camp or is stuck at the edge of the board, where its mobility is tiny. And always check the way home for your own raiders — or the trapped piece will be yours.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f6 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f6 (e5·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c8 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·72)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·76)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (c3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c3 (b2·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f8 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to b7 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: bishop to g2 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b6 (g1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (e4·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to g7 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f6 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: pawn to e6 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c3 (b2·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h5 (g4·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d3 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f6 (e5·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e4 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (d5·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d6 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 118 →