Day 321: Trapped piece
Target rating: 1016
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 d4 (a1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g7 (f5·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·67)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: bishop to c8 (g4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (e2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d6 (c5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to f6 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to e6 (c5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to d8 (e6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (c2·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g6 (g7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (b4·35)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·120)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to g4 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to a3 (c2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Back-rank mate in 3 on d7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Discovered attack: queen to e8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h6 (h4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Discovered attack: bishop to c5Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e6 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to f6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b3 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: bishop to f6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 322 →