Day 377: Queen trap

Target Rating 1089

Lesson of the day

A queen trap catches the strongest piece after it ventures too far and finds no way home. The usual story is a queen grabbing a distant pawn — the classic poisoned pawn. The warning signs: the queen has few retreat squares, and enemy minor pieces cut them off one by one, gaining tempo with every move. Before your queen snacks on a pawn in enemy territory, count her escape routes — fewer than two means stay home.

Types of the dayQueen trap Uncastled king Hanging piece

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b1 (c1·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c5 (b3·14)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (e4·3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b4 (a3·19)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (f3·11)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b4 (d2·4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e3 (d2·3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

8. Attack on the uncastled king: king to e2 (d1·3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

9. Attack on the uncastled king: king to g1 (f2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h4 (f2·4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (e5·11)Shuffle Rating 1110 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

12. Winning blow: knight to a4 (c3)Shuffle Rating 1110 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b6 (d5·2)Shuffle Rating 1110 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (e5·24)Shuffle Rating 1110 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

15. Winning blow: rook to a7 (a4)Shuffle Rating 1200 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

16. Discovered attack: knight to f3 (e5)Shuffle Rating 1164 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

17. Pin: knight to d5Shuffle Rating 1164 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

18. Fork: knight to g7Shuffle Rating 1166 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

19. Fork: knight to c5 (e4)Shuffle Rating 1168 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

20. Mate in 2: rook to h5 (d5)Shuffle Rating 1091 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

21. Fork: knight to h5 (g3)Shuffle Rating 1172 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

22. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (c6·9)Shuffle Rating 1092 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

23. Mate in 2: bishop to f6 (e5)Shuffle Rating 1174 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

24. Fork: queen to d4 (b6)Shuffle Rating 1174 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

25. Mate in 1: queen to d8 (d4)Shuffle Rating 1100 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: pawn to c6 (b5·9)Shuffle Rating 1200 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

27. Mate in 2: queen to a8 (e4)Shuffle Rating 1220 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

28. Winning blow: pawn to c3 (c2·8)Shuffle Rating 1390 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d7 (f5)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

30. Winning blow: bishop to b3 (c4)Shuffle Rating 1200 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!