Day 164: Trapped piece
Target rating: 812
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. Winning blow: rook to c5 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d2 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b7 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (c8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (a4·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (f4·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (a7·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (f2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: pawn to g3 (h2·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to g3 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to d2 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to c3 (a3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (g5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to g7 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to c5 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f6 (g5·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (d3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (f3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (d4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (c1·28)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (f5·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a7 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 165 →