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Day 373: 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 f2 (e4)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (e5)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (d4·3)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to e5 (c6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to d6 (f7·2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to f3 (f1·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g4 (g3)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (a1·11)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to b1 (a1·6)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: pawn to d7 (c6·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (c4·6)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to c4 (c3·4)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (e2·5)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: king to h2 (g1·27)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: king to c2 (c1·10)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to d6 (b5·8)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (f1)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to f1 (e1·3)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c6 (b6)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to c7 (g3·3)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (d4·3)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to g7 (h6·4)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to c8 (g4·3)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6 (b1·14)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (c8)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 2: king to e6Shuffle Rating 1204Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d5 (c3·25)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 2: pawn to b4 (b2)Shuffle Rating 1410Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: queen to h5 (e5)Shuffle Rating 1148Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: knight to e5 (f3·11)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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