Albin Counter-Gambit: Lasker Trap
Spot the mistake, then find the punishment
Starting positionWhite to move
0 / 18
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
- 6.
- 7.
- 8.
- 9.
The temptation
6.Bxb4 is the move that springs the trap. Taking the bishop wins a piece and appears to end the check. White expects to recover the e3 pawn afterward.
Why it works
6...exf2+ forces the king to move, and 7...fxg1=N+ promotes with check. A queen on g1 would not check Ke2; the knight underpromotion keeps the initiative. In the displayed 8.Rxg1 Bg4+ 9.Ke1 Bxd1 continuation, the bishop checks along g4–e2 and then takes White's queen. fxg1=N+ is check, not mate. The move ...O-O-O from normal Albin play is not a blunder; this lesson instead shows the concrete danger of ignoring the advanced pawn.
Underpromotion keeps the check going
A knight on g1 attacks e2, so promotion comes with check. The checking tempo lets Black develop ...Bg4+ before taking the queen on d1.
How to avoid it
After 5...dxe3, recapture with 6.fxe3 rather than Bxb4. Earlier, 4.Nf3 develops without allowing the same ...dxe3 pawn breakthrough.
The opening behind it
Learn the sound version of this line and the trick stops being tempting.