Trapping pieces
In short
A piece is trapped when it is attacked and every square it could go to is also attacked. Bishops on the edge, knights on the rim and queens that grab far-away pawns are frequent victims.
By the end you can
- Trap pieces that wander off
- Keep escape squares for own pieces
The lesson
A piece is trapped when it is attacked and every square it could go to is also attacked. Bishops on the edge, knights on the rim and queens that grab far-away pawns are frequent victims.
Before sending a piece deep into enemy territory, count its retreat squares. Conversely, when an opponent piece has few squares, look for a pawn move that takes the last one away.
Key points to remember
- Count the retreat squares
- Edge pieces are easy to trap
- Pawn moves are the best trappers
Examples
Show the solution
23... Rh8 24. Qxh8 Bxh8
Practise it
Solve puzzles on this idea: trapped piece puzzles.
Homework
15 trapped-piece puzzles.
More tactics lessons
- Hanging pieces: take them and don’t leave them (Novice)
- Double attacks and forks (Novice)
- Pins: pieces that cannot move (Novice)
- Forks with every piece (Class F)
- Using and breaking pins (Class F)
- Skewers and x-rays (Class F)