Day 207: Trapped piece
Target rating: 865
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 b7 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b6 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h4 (h1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g4 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d3 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to c2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f5 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a4 (b3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g4 (f3·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to e1 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (b5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (g5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h7 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d1 (e1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f5 (e3·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to g3 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f3 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b4 (e1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (g5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to g6 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Fork: bishop to e6 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (g2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to h6 (f5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to e6 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 208 →