Trapped Piece Chess Puzzles — Rated 800

10 trapped pieces rated between 800 and 999, averaging 939. 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 800-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 800 is one that players around 800 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 800

  1. Trapped Piece puzzle 1, rated 882h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 882 · Black to play after Ba1
    Show solution

    b3+ Kd2 b2 Bxb2 axb2

  2. Trapped Piece puzzle 2, rated 982h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 2 · rated 982 · Black to play after Kg2
    Show solution

    g5 g4 gxh4

  3. Trapped Piece puzzle 3, rated 881h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 881 · Black to play after Rxc3
    Show solution

    Rxe1+ Bxe1 d2 Bxd2 Rxd2

  4. Trapped Piece puzzle 4, rated 974h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 974 · Black to play after d5
    Show solution

    Bxb2 Nd2 Bxa1

  5. Trapped Piece puzzle 5, rated 947h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 5 · rated 947 · Black to play after Rxh6+
    Show solution

    Kg7 Rxe6 fxe6

  6. Trapped Piece puzzle 6, rated 999a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 999 · White to play after Rg8
    Show solution

    Rxg8+ Kxg8 g3 Rxf3 Rxf3

  7. Trapped Piece puzzle 7, rated 956a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 956 · White to play after Be6
    Show solution

    Bxg7 Ne7 Bxh8

  8. Trapped Piece puzzle 8, rated 924a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 924 · White to play after g5
    Show solution

    fxg5 Bxg5 Bxg5

  9. Trapped Piece puzzle 9, rated 980a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 980 · White to play after Rxd3+
    Show solution

    Kc2 Ra3 bxa3

  10. Trapped Piece puzzle 10, rated 864a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 864 · White to play after Qf4+
    Show solution

    g3 Qxf3 Qxf3

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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 800 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 800 is one that players rated around 800 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 939, so they suit 800-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.