Day 228: Trapped piece
Target rating: 899
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 a4 (d1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to e6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·35)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (h1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (g5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b2 (c1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a5 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h4 (f3·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f3 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c2 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: king to d1 (e1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (e3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d1 (c1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (c4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: king to c1 (d1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Skewer: rook to g3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to c4 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: bishop to c4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Skewer: queen to b5Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to c3 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to f7 (a2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f6 (g5·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to f2 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Fork: queen to f5Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Skewer: rook to b8 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 229 →