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Day 295: 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: knight to c7 (d5·9)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (h1·30)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f1 (e1·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h6 (f5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e3 (d2·8)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d2Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (c3·34)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h6 (g5·15)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h3 (g3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h6 (c1·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b7 (a6·7)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to d5 (f4·3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to d3 (c2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h1·6)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to h4 (g3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to f3 (d3)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to d5 (d1·6)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e5 (a1·21)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to e2 (f3)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (d4·19)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c2 (c1·4)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to d5 (e3·8)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to c7 (h2·2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to d5 (d1·7)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·4)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (g5·11)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: bishop to f2 (g3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g1 (h1·7)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Castling-960 to the rescue on h1 (g1)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (c4·3)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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