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Day 446: 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. Winning blow: bishop to d7 (e6·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (h8·5)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: king to e1 (f1·8)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to e3 (d2·2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (b5·10)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: king to h1 (g1·4)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to e7 (f5·14)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: king to c3 (d2·2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to d5 (c7·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to b1 (c1·4)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: rook to g1 (e1·2)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (h1·7)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to a5 (b3·3)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to b4 (c2·2)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to c6 (c2)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to h6 (d2·4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (a1·4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b5 (a4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to d6 (e5·6)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to g5 (g8·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (d5·38)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d4·6)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to e6 (e1·16)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to d4 (d1·8)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (g1·10)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 2: queen to b5 (b3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 2: queen to b6 (b4·3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 2: king to h2Shuffle Rating 1372Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d6 (e5·23)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: queen to d8 (g5·4)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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