Trapped Piece

Question 1

White to play and win

Answer 1

2-1: 1.g4 traps the queen.

Question 2

White to play and win

Answer 2

2-2: 1.Bxg7 traps the rook.

Question 3

Black to play and win

Answer 3

2-3: 1…g5 traps the knight.

Question 4

Black to play and win

Answer 4

2-4: 1…b5 2.Bb3 c4 traps the bishop.

Question 5

White to play and win

Answer 5

2-5: 1.Qf3 Nc6 2.Qxc6+ Bd7 3.Qe4 wins a piece because of the trapped rook.

Question 6

Black to play and win

Answer 6

2-6: 1…Nxd4 2.Qxd4 c5 3.Qe3 c4 traps the bishop, a simplified “Noah’s Ark” trap.

Question 7

White to play and win

Answer 7

2-7: 1.Nxc6 bxc6 2.Bb6 traps the queen.

Question 8

Black to play and win

Answer 8

2-8: 1…Rh6 traps the queen.

Question 9

Black to play and win

Answer 9

2-9: 1…Nxd3 2.Qxd3 g5 wins a pice for two pawns, although White still has chances.

Question 10

White to play and win

Answer 10

2-10: 1.Qb5 traps the knight.

Question 11

White to play and win

Answer 11

2-11: 1.Bd2 traps the queen.

Question 12

White to play and win

Answer 12

2-12: 1.g4 traps the knight.

Question 13

White to play and win

Answer 13

2-13: 1.d7 traps the bishop. And 1…Rd8 (1…Qxc3+ 2.Qd2) 2.dxc8Q still wins a piece because the rook is pinned.

Question 14

White to play and win

Answer 14

2-14: 1.Nc7 Rb8 2.Bxa7 traps the rook.

Question 15

Black to play and win

Answer 15

2-15: 1…b6 traps the bishop.

Question 16

White to play and win

Answer 16

2-16: 1.Qxg7 dxc3 2.Qxh8 wins the trapped rook and the g8-knight is lost as well.

Question 17

Black to play and win

Answer 17

2-17: 1…Be6 traps the rook, followed by 2…Kf8 winning the exchange.

Question 18

Black to play and win

Answer 18

2-18: 1…Kg7 traps the rook.

Question 19

White to play and win

Answer 19

2-19: 1.g4 traps the knight.

Question 20

Black to play and win

Answer 20

2-20: 1…h5 wins as 2.Nf2?? Qxg2#. So the knight is trapped.

Question 21

White to play and win

Answer 21

2-21: 1.Bg5 traps the queen.

Question 22

White to play and win

Answer 22

2-22: 1.Rhe1 traps the queen. If 1…Nf8 2.Rxe2 Rxd4 3.Nxd4 wins a rook.

Question 23

White to play and win

Answer 23

2-23: 1.Qe2 traps the knight.

Question 24

White to play and win

Answer 24

2-24: 1.Ra1 traps the queen.

Question 25

White to play and win

Answer 25

**2-25: 1.h6** traps the knight. 1...Ng6 2.Qe3 does not change anything.

Question 26

Black to play and win

Answer 26

**2-26: 1...Nc5** traps the rook and wins the exchange.

Question 27

Black to play and win

Answer 27

**2-27: 1...b5 2.Bb3 a4** traps the bishop.

Question 28

White to play and win

Answer 28

**2-28: 1.Be4** traps the rook. After **1...b3 2.Bxc2 bxc2 3.Rc1**, Black can resign.

Question 29

White to play and win

Answer 29

**2-29: 1.Bg5** traps the queen. If 1...Bh6 then White wins a piece with either 2.Bxh6 or, even better, trades queens when ahead with 2.Bxh4 Bxd2+ 3.Rxd2.

Question 30

Black to play and win

Answer 30

**2-30: 1...3xd4** e.g. **2.Nxd4?** White is in trouble even if he does not allow the "Noah's Ark" pattern, since he cannot recapture safely.

Question 31

White to play and win

Answer 31

**2-31: 1.R1e6** traps the queen.