Day 400: Queen trap
Target rating: 1112
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. Winning blow: rook to f8 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to h6 (f5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g6 (e5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to c7 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to e7 (d5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to f7 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d7 (e5·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to f6 (e4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to a5 (b4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (e5·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: bishop to f3 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g7 (f5·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to g4 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to d7 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d1 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b4 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to b6 (b5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g4 (d1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to f2 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to f2 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (b4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to c5 (b3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 401 →