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Chess Opening Traps

26 named traps, shown move by move — the tempting move, why it loses, and what to play instead.

How to read a trap page

  1. 1. Step through the opening moves to the position where the trap is set.
  2. 2. The viewer stops on the tempting move and asks you to find what is wrong with it.
  3. 3. Reveal the punishment and step through it with arrows, threats and escape squares marked on the board.

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Beginner traps

Short, common and immediately punishing — the ones you meet first.

Légal's Trap1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6…BeginnerCaro-Kann Smothered Mate1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4…BeginnerCaro-Kann: The ...Bxh5 Bishop Trap1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4…BeginnerEnglund Gambit Trap1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7…BeginnerScholar's Mate: The Copycat Trap1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6…Beginner

1.e4 traps

Traps that grow out of open king-pawn games.

Fried Liver Attack1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6…IntermediateTraxler: The Rook-Grab Mate1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6…AdvancedWilkes-Barre: The Nd4 Mate1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6…AdvancedFour Knights: The Centre Fork Trap1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6…IntermediatePonziani Queen-and-Knight Fork1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6…IntermediateNoah's Ark Trap1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6…IntermediateFishing Pole Trap1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6…AdvancedEvans Gambit: The Exposed King1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5…IntermediateLolli Attack: The King-Walk Mate1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6…AdvancedPetrov Symmetry Queen Trap1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nxe4…Intermediate

Sicilian traps

Sharp lines where one careless move loses material or the game.

Najdorf: The Nxe6 Queen Fork1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4…AdvancedSiberian Trap1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3…Intermediate

1.d4 traps

Traps hiding inside quiet-looking queen-pawn structures.

Elephant Trap1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6…IntermediateAlbin Counter-Gambit: Lasker Trap1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4…IntermediateGrünfeld: The Poisoned Rook on b11.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5…IntermediateStaunton Gambit: The Pinned Knight1.d4 f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6…IntermediateKing's Indian: The Unprotected e4 Capture1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7…Intermediate

Gambit traps

Gambits that hand over a pawn to set a trap with it.

Blackburne Shilling Gambit Trap1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4…BeginnerDanish Gambit: The Forgotten Rook1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3…BeginnerLeonhardt Gambit Queen Trap1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5…IntermediateStafford Gambit Queen-Bait Mate1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nc6…Intermediate

A trap is only worth learning next to the opening it comes from. 26 traps here, each linked back to its opening so you learn the sound version of the line, not just the trick.

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