Day 603: Queen trap
Target rating: 1371
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 h4 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to b2 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c6 (a4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (b7·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to b8 (a7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: king to a1 (b1·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to c4 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to c6 (a5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (e4·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to e7 (e8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Pin: bishop to h6 (g7·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to e6 (e5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h6 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g7 (f5·26)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h6 (f5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to d7 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to b6 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (d5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to g6 (d3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: rook to b7 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c7 (e5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to c5 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (e5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to a1 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (h4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 604 →