What is Trapped piece in chess?
A piece with no safe squares to move to - it can be won for free or cheaply.
Bishops and knights are most often trapped when they venture too far forward without support. A pawn thrust can often cut off all retreat squares at once.
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- Hanging pieceAn undefended piece that can be captured for free.
- En priseA French phrase meaning a piece is in a position to be captured.
- Smothered mateCheckmate by a knight when the king is boxed in by its own pieces.
- DevelopmentBringing your knights and bishops off the back rank into the game.
- TempoA single move counted as a unit of time.
- InitiativeBeing the side making threats and dictating play.