Day 295: Trapped piece
Target rating: 984
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: knight to c7 (d5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (h1·30)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f1 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h6 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e3 (d2·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (c3·34)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h6 (g5·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h3 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h6 (c1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b7 (a6·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to d5 (f4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to d3 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to h4 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to f3 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to d5 (d1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e5 (a1·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to e2 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (d4·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c2 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to d5 (e3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to c7 (h2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to d5 (d1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 296 →