Secrets of Trapping Pieces: Knight Trapped by Knight

KevinSmithIdiot

Updated: Oct 15, 2024, 6:51 AM | 3

Today we'll look at a configuration that I did NOT spend any time examining during the course of writing Secrets of Trapping Pieces, published 18 April 2023. Well, I didn't expect to cover everything in the first book, even though there are over 300 puzzles. And at the time this particular notion of a Knight trapping another Knight didn't strike me as particularly exciting or useful. It is clearly "a thing", but I was too swamped to examine it further at the time.

Wow, was I wrong! Dial up your favorite chess database and ask it to look for positions with paired enemy Knights on d4/a1, d5/a8, e4/h1 or e5/h8 and you'll pull up hundreds or even thousands of games. Most of them are in complex middle games, and what struck me was how often that configuration offers an early clue to the outcome of the game. Fortunately, there are also plenty of endgame examples as well. Though I do intend to blog on some of those middle game positions once I've formulated some generic insights that may offer guideposts to those who are otherwise entering uncharted territory.

But in keeping with the philosophy of introducing material I focused my attention on simpler settings. As previously stated in some earlier blogs on trapping pieces I feel, as do many coaches, that simpler settings can be conducive to pointing out some of the most salient aspects of a situation. Once you've nailed the basics that establishes a framework for attacking the more complex settings of middle games. Starting with middle games and trying to derive some concrete ideas one can latch onto strikes me as more akin to attempting to nail Jell-o to a wall.

So, there you have it, and here we are! With a grossly simplified diagram that depicts a woeful Knight on h8, with no safe squares except that dismal corner. And the even more dismal Knight on h1 who cannot flee, lest his counterpart on e4 lash out with a deadly strike, and is wilting before the glowingly ecstatic Gloria the g-pawn who will soon promote on either g1 or h1, as the mood strikes. After all, the soon-to-be Her Majesty is a terror to be reckoned with and can choose her birthing square as best suits Her!

Okay, let's put some meat on them bones. Let's look at one of the simplest cases where a Knight can trap another Knight and force them into a fruitless, if furious, battle. Though not furlong (forgive the pun).

Now for two one-movers from real games. We're only going to look at the first move for now because after that it gets quite complex. So before we return to these games we will examine some simplified endgame compositions. The rationale? It's easier to gain insights with some simplified offerings before exposure to the additional complexities surrounding these games.

White to move and gain a decisive advantage.

And, in the spirit of fair play, Black to move and demonstrate a decisive advantage.

In this puzzle, based on a composition, all you have to do is find five, count 'em five, only moves. Because Black is going to play best moves every time.

What did we learn from that puzzle? Chess is complicated!! Or easy, depending on your skill level, the amount of caffeine ingested, your aerobic conditioning, etc., etc., etc.

No, that's not it. What we learned is:
1. You can trap a Knight by threatening to pull it away from its key role preventing a pawn from promoting on the back rank.
2. The Knights, once they reach what is essentially a stalemated position relative to each other, need intervention by other pieces. In this case only the Kings are available. So BOTH rush to the Area of Responsibility (AOR). And in this case the AOR is the b7 square.

So what if White chose to play 5.Nb6+ instead of 5.Kb5. After all, Black cannot defend the a8 Knight. How can Black respond, or is it just time to take off his cleats and call it a game?

What did we learn? Well, if Black thought having a Knight trapped in the corner was depressing, then consider that White will certainly find it mortifying that his own Knight is now trapped in the same corner and the a7 pawn is lost! Oh, the sadness, qué lástima! This is the opposite of "O sole mio".

Now we skip ahead many moves to examine a critical position. Both sides are fighting for control of the b7 square. The outcome hangs in the balance.

This next one is tough if you don't know the technique. So, here's a feeble hint: Zugzwang! Good luck!

So what did we learn?
1. First, this fight continues to revolve around the b7 square. Black's King starts on the c7 square. If White can take away the c6 and c8 squares, then the Black King cannot move from c7 because He would lose contact with b7, allowing the White Sovereign to invade.
2. Since we know the Black King has no moves if c6 and c8 are controlled, and He currently occupies the c7 square, that only allows for one possible Knight move.
3. So all, (ALL he says, like that is easy) we need to do is to find the one move that both prevents Black's King from moving to c6 or c8 AND ALSO ensures that there is a deadly response if Black tries to exit stage right (a la Snagglepuss, 1959-1988) via ...Nb6.

You can find a very similar final position in 100 Endgames You Must Know.

Well, I kept harping on the fight between Their Lieges to control the b7 square. Why doesn't Black just play 5...Kc8 in response to White's 5.Kb5?

What did we learn?

1. We repeat the mantra, "Chess is hard." Well sometimes. And in this case it just looks so, so logical to contest control of the b7 square immediately. Sigh.
2. It's always useful to remember the principle of the opposition. White takes the direct opposition and Black has no good moves.

What should Black have played? Why? And how should Black continue if White botches the response? We look at that below.

So what did we learn?
1. When Kings approach corners there is always a danger of stalemate. Let the keening, wailing and gnashing of teeth begin. Note: this is neither Acts 7:54 or Matthew 8:12.

Time to look at the entire composition to reinforce some key points and create cohesion. No puzzle, just some discussion.

Okay...but those were compositions. Is that helpful in real games?

Let's return to two of the early puzzles from real games. You be the judge of whether or not working with those composition puzzles offered you some insights as you now see how the more complex positions played out.

And we'll wrap up with this one. Which just goes to show that even when you are winning, a single miscue can thwart the best-laid plans.

Secrets of Trapping Pieces: Knight Trapped by Knight

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