Trapped Piece Chess Puzzles — Rated 2000

10 trapped pieces rated between 2000 and 2199, averaging 2100. Each position below is from a real game, with the solution given underneath — so you can check yourself immediately rather than guessing whether you were right.

A trapped piece has no safe squares. It does not have to be attacked yet — the winning technique is to take away its escape squares first, then attack it with something it cannot trade with. Knights on the rim and queens that raided too early are the usual victims.

These are pitched at 2000-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 2000 is one that players around 2000 solve about half the time, so if you are getting most of these you should move up a band.

Solving from a page is good for pattern recognition but not for tracking progress. The rated puzzle trainer serves puzzles matched to your own rating and adjusts as you solve, and the Mistake Trainer builds puzzles from positions you actually got wrong in your own games.

Trapped Piece puzzles rated 2000

  1. Trapped Piece puzzle 1, rated 2190h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 2190 · Black to play after Nf7+
    Show solution

    Rxf7 Qxf7 Nd6 Qxe7 Qxe7

  2. Trapped Piece puzzle 2, rated 2019a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 2019 · White to play after Rd6
    Show solution

    g5 Qh5 Bd1 Rxd4 Bxh5

  3. Trapped Piece puzzle 3, rated 2026a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 2026 · White to play after Rc7
    Show solution

    Bg6 Qxe5 fxe5 Rxf2 Bxf2

  4. Trapped Piece puzzle 4, rated 2029a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 2029 · White to play after Kd6
    Show solution

    Kb2 Bxe4 Nxe4+

  5. Trapped Piece puzzle 5, rated 2144a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 2144 · White to play after fxe6
    Show solution

    Nc3 Rxb2+ Kxb2

  6. Trapped Piece puzzle 6, rated 2195a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 2195 · White to play after Rf7
    Show solution

    Re8 Rxd6 Rxd8

  7. Trapped Piece puzzle 7, rated 2155h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 7 · rated 2155 · Black to play after Nd5
    Show solution

    Nd7 Qxe6 Qxe6

  8. Trapped Piece puzzle 8, rated 2048a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 2048 · White to play after Rxf3
    Show solution

    Nxf3+ Ke4 Ng5+ Kf4 Nxh7 Na4 bxa4

  9. Trapped Piece puzzle 9, rated 2090a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 2090 · White to play after Nxe7
    Show solution

    fxe7 Re8 exf8=Q Rxe1+ Kf2 Rxf8 Kxe1

  10. Trapped Piece puzzle 10, rated 2099a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 2099 · White to play after Na5
    Show solution

    Kb4 e3 Kxa5

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Frequently asked questions

What is a trapped piece in chess?

A trapped piece has no safe squares. It does not have to be attacked yet — the winning technique is to take away its escape squares first, then attack it with something it cannot trade with. Knights on the rim and queens that raided too early are the usual victims.

What does a puzzle rating of 2000 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 2000 is one that players rated around 2000 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 2100, so they suit 2000-rated players.

Are these trapped piece puzzles free?

Yes. Every puzzle on this page, including its solution, is free to view with no account. The rated trainer that tracks your progress and serves puzzles matched to your rating is part of Chess Ramp Premium.