Chess tactics
What Is a Trapped Piece in Chess?
A trapped piece is one that is attacked, or soon will be, and has no safe square to escape to. Because it cannot run, the opponent can win it by attacking it with something cheaper, often a pawn or the king.
Example
1... b6
White's bishop has just grabbed the pawn on a7. After b6 it has no way out: b8 is covered by the king and b6 is blocked. Black will follow with Kb7 and win the bishop, and the most White can get back is a pawn with Bxb6+.
How pieces get trapped
Pieces get trapped when they go somewhere with few exits. The edge and the corners are the usual places: a knight on the rim has at most four squares, and a bishop on a7 or h7 can be shut in by a single pawn move. Pawn grabs deep in enemy territory, like the bishop taking on a7 in the example, are the classic cause.
Queens get trapped too, most often after taking a far-off pawn such as b2 or b7 while the opponent's pieces surround it.
How to trap a piece
First take away its escape squares, then attack it. Pawns are the best tools because they cost little and cover two squares at once. Look for enemy pieces with one or two exits and ask whether a pawn move can close them.
Do it with tempo where you can. If the trapped piece can grab something on the way out, it becomes a desperado and you get less than you hoped.
How to avoid it
Before you capture a pawn on the edge or put a piece deep in enemy territory, count its exits after the opponent's best pawn move. A piece that can only go back the way it came is in danger, especially if a single pawn push can close that road.
Common questions
Which piece gets trapped most often?
Bishops and knights near the edge of the board are trapped most often, followed by queens that wander off to grab pawns. Rooks get trapped in the corner when the king blocks them in.
What should you do if your piece is trapped?
Look for the most valuable thing it can capture before it is taken, or a check that buys time. If neither exists, try to make the opponent spend as many moves as possible winning it.
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