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Day 164: 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: rook to c5 (c1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d2 (f1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b7 (g2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (c8·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (e6)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·23)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (a4·13)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (f4·13)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (a7·9)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (f2·6)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: pawn to g3 (h2·10)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to g3 (e3)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to d2 (f2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to c3 (a3·2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (g5·3)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to g7 (g2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to c5 (c1·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f6 (g5·16)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (d3·5)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (f3·5)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (d4·8)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (c1·28)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (f5·20)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a7 (b6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Fork: rook to d6Shuffle Rating 961Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g6 (f4·3)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (g1·8)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: pawn to a5 (b4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (f3·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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