Day 377: Queen trap
Target rating: 1089
Lesson of the day
A queen trap catches the strongest piece after it ventures too far and finds no way home. The usual story is a queen grabbing a distant pawn — the classic poisoned pawn. The warning signs: the queen has few retreat squares, and enemy minor pieces cut them off one by one, gaining tempo with every move. Before your queen snacks on a pawn in enemy territory, count her escape routes — fewer than two means stay home.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b1 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c5 (b3·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b4 (a3·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (f3·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b4 (d2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e3 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: king to e2 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: king to g1 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h4 (f2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (e5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to a4 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b6 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (e5·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to a7 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Discovered attack: knight to f3 (e5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Pin: knight to d5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: knight to g7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Fork: knight to c5 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: rook to h5 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Fork: knight to h5 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (c6·9)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: bishop to f6 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Fork: queen to d4 (b6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 1: queen to d8 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 378 →