Day 271: Trapped piece
Target rating: 952
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 a4 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to g1 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·63)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: bishop to c7 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a4 (c3·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b3 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to h5 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c4 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to h8 (h7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: king to d1 (e2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b7 (h1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to e1 (f1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to g6 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to f8 (e6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to g4 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to f5 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: pawn to b6 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to c4 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: king to g1 (f2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to b5 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: king to d2 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to d4 (a1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: king to e1 (f2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to d5 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 272 →