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Day 321: 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 d4 (a1·15)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g7 (f5·12)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·67)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: bishop to c8 (g4·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (e2·5)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d6 (c5·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to f6 (h6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to e6 (c5·5)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to d8 (e6·4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (c2·17)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g6 (g7·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (b4·35)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·120)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to g4 (g1·3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to a3 (c2·3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Back-rank mate in 3 on d7Shuffle Rating 1099Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Discovered attack: queen to e8Shuffle Rating 1099Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h6 (h4·3)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Discovered attack: bishop to c5Shuffle Rating 1099Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (g4)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (f8)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e6 (g4)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to f6Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b3 (a3)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: bishop to f6Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: bishop to b6 (g1·3)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: king to h2 (h1)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 2: queen to d6 (b6·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: rook to e5 (e3·2)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b4 (c2·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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