Grünfeld: The Poisoned Rook on b1
Spot the mistake, then find the punishment
Starting positionWhite to move
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The temptation
12...Qxb1 is the move that springs the trap. The a2 queen sees a rook on b1 and expects a large material gain. Black fails to recheck the defenders after White castles.
Why it works
13.Qxb1 wins the queen for the rook. The white queen on d1 has a clear path through c1 to b1, so the rook was never free to take. Earlier ...Qxa2 is a recognized Grünfeld pawn grab and Bd2 is normal theory, not White's blunder. The tactical error is the later ...Qxb1. White's rook really is on b1, and the former b-pawn has moved c3–d4; there is no doubled c-pawn to describe.
Look beyond the hanging rook
Qd1 defends b1 through empty c1. Black has exchanged a queen for a rook by overlooking the long-range defender.
How to avoid it
After 12.O-O, develop with 12...Nc6 rather than taking b1. Recount defenders after a king move changes rook placement and first-rank geometry.
The opening behind it
Learn the sound version of this line and the trick stops being tempting.