Day 185: Trapped piece
Target rating: 846
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: queen to f8 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h2 (f1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·28)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c5 (b3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·49)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: king to c2 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a3 (b2·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: pawn to b3 (a2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: king to e2 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c2 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (h2·28)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·110)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f7 (g6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to e4 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to c7 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 1: queen to h1 (h2·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: rook to f2 (f6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (h6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Discovered attack: bishop to a5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to a4 (c2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h6 (h4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e3 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to e7 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to b6 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to d5 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 186 →