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Day 703: 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: queen to c8 (f5·4)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to c1 (d1·4)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to d5 (b5·2)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to c5 (e6·10)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to e7 (g7·2)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to h5 (h8)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to c7 (c5·3)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (d4·9)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to f7 (f3·5)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to e1 (g1·5)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: knight to e6 (d4·21)Shuffle Rating 1620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to h6 (g6·6)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to e6 (e3·5)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to a5 (c4·4)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (b2·7)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: rook to a5 (a2)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: bishop to c6 (e4)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: knight to f6 (d5·2)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: knight to e5 (f7)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: rook to b7 (c7·3)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to d7 (e6)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to e4 (e6)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to b7 (b5·3)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: bishop to b6 (c5)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: bishop to f6 (e5·2)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g5 (d2·4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: bishop to f4 (c1·8)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Pin: queen to h5 (h3)Shuffle Rating 1827Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (g8·8)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: queen to b5Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 704 →