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.