Trapped Piece Chess Puzzles — Rated 2200+

10 trapped pieces rated between 2200 and 3500, averaging 2336. 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 2200+-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 2200+ is one that players around 2200+ 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 2200+

  1. Trapped Piece puzzle 1, rated 2357h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 2357 · Black to play after Nxh7
    Show solution

    Kxh7 Rxh5+ Kg7 Rc5 bxc5

  2. Trapped Piece puzzle 2, rated 2261a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 2261 · White to play after dxc4
    Show solution

    Rxe4+ Kf7 Rh4 Qxh4 Bxh4

  3. Trapped Piece puzzle 3, rated 2311a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 2311 · White to play after g5
    Show solution

    g4 Qxf4 Rxf4

  4. Trapped Piece puzzle 4, rated 2288a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 2288 · White to play after Bc8
    Show solution

    Qxh7 Qxc2 Qxg8

  5. Trapped Piece puzzle 5, rated 2291h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 5 · rated 2291 · Black to play after Rgg4
    Show solution

    Qc3 Qe2 Re1 Qxe1 Qxe1

  6. Trapped Piece puzzle 6, rated 2210h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 6 · rated 2210 · Black to play after Be6+
    Show solution

    Nxe6 dxe6+ Kg6 Qxa8 Bxa8

  7. Trapped Piece puzzle 7, rated 2320h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 7 · rated 2320 · Black to play after Rc2
    Show solution

    Kf6 Rh5 Kg6 Rxh4 Rxh4

  8. Trapped Piece puzzle 8, rated 2302a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 2302 · White to play after Qxc3
    Show solution

    Nxf5 gxf5 Rc1 Qc4 Rxc4

  9. Trapped Piece puzzle 9, rated 2715a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 2715 · White to play after Qa2+
    Show solution

    Kc2 Rf6 Qd2 Rf8 Ra1 Qxa1 Rxa1

  10. Trapped Piece puzzle 10, rated 2303a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 2303 · White to play after f5
    Show solution

    f3 Rxg3 fxe4

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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 2200+ mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 2200+ is one that players rated around 2200+ solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 2336, so they suit 2200+-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.