Danish Gambit: The Forgotten Rook
Spot the mistake, then find the punishment
Starting positionWhite to move
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The temptation
5...Bc5 is the move that springs the trap. ...Bc5 develops with pressure against f2. Black concentrates on its own bishop's diagonal and overlooks the opposing bishop on b2.
Why it works
7.Bxh8 wins the rook. The bishop on b2 reached g7 because White's c- and d-pawns were sacrificed and the e-pawn moved to e4, clearing the diagonal; ...Nf6 fails to save the attacked rook. White has given pawns for rapid bishop activity; that compensation becomes concrete when Black ignores a direct threat. This lesson does not label the sound central break 5...d5 a blunder: here ...Bc5 leaves g7 undefended and lets the bishop invade, while the g8 knight blocks the rook's escape.
The long diagonal reaches the corner
After ...Nf6, the g7 bishop can take the h8 rook. Black's development has not answered the immediate threat.
How to avoid it
Avoid the bishop's invasion with the central counterstrike 5...d5 rather than 5...Bc5. After Bxg7 the g8 knight blocks the rook's escape, so simply developing ...Nf6 does not save it.
The opening behind it
Learn the sound version of this line and the trick stops being tempting.