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Day 125: Trapped piece

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: pawn to g4 (f3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·48)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b3Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b4 (a3·16)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (e5·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f6 (e5·19)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to e8Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (d3·11)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to c5Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·84)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d7 (e6·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b4 (c3·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to d3 (e2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (b3·4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (a1·4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·16)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b7 (c6·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (e4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d3 (e2·9)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (e3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (h1·28)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (e2·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e8 (d6·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·17)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d3 (c2·13)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e3 (f4·2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g4 (g3·2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e6·2)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b4 (a3·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (e3·7)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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