Day 373: Trapped piece
Target rating: 1083
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 f2 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (d4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to e5 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to d6 (f7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to f3 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g4 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (a1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to b1 (a1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: pawn to d7 (c6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (c4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to c4 (c3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (e2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: king to h2 (g1·27)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: king to c2 (c1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to d6 (b5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to f1 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c6 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to c7 (g3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (d4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to g7 (h6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to c8 (g4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6 (b1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 374 →