Open in the app

Day 228: 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. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a4 (d1·7)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to e6Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·35)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (h1·12)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (g5·5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b2 (c1·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a5 (a1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h4 (f3·10)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f3 (g2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c2 (a1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: king to d1 (e1·13)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (e3·5)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d1 (c1·8)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (c4·4)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: king to c1 (d1·14)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Skewer: rook to g3Shuffle Rating 993Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to c4 (c6)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: bishop to c4Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Skewer: queen to b5Shuffle Rating 995Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to c3 (a1)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to f7 (a2·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f6 (g5·17)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to f2 (e1)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Fork: queen to f5Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Skewer: rook to b8 (b5)Shuffle Rating 996Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: king to c1 (d1·11)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: rook to f8 (f4·5)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 2: rook to e7 (e1)Shuffle Rating 1220Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h5 (g4·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: pawn to e6 (d5·12)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 229 →