Day 607: Trapped piece
Target rating: 1377
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. Winning blow: rook to d2 (d1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (d3·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (d4·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to a4 (a1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to g3 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to f3 (e2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to e7 (d8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to e3 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to e7 (g5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (e5·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to f1 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to b4 (b2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to h6 (h1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to g6 (e4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to c8 (c4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to g5 (c1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: rook to d7 (e7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (d2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to h6 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (d1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d2 (d1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to e5 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 608 →