Fine Chess Academy
Black sets the trap · ends in mate
Englund Gambit Trap
Englund Gambit: Main Line
Black gambits a pawn, grabs b2 with the queen, and mates on c1 if White plays the natural-looking 6.Bc3.
How White avoids it: play 6.Nc3 instead of 6.Bc3.
Classic opening traps
Well-known traps that catch players every day. Learn to spring them, and learn to dodge them.
Black sets the trap · ends in mate
Stafford Gambit Trap
Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit Accepted
The famous "Oh no, my queen!" trap. Black offers the queen, and if White takes it, the king gets mated.
How White avoids it: play 6.Be2 instead of 6.Bg5.
Black sets the trap · ends in mate
Blackburne Shilling Trap
Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit
Black leaves e5 hanging. If White gets greedy twice, a knight delivers a smothered-style mate on f3.
How White avoids it: play 5.O-O instead of 5.Nxf7.
Black sets the trap · ends in mate
Siberian Trap
Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Siberian Variation, Siberian Trap
A deadly trap in the Smith-Morra Gambit. White kicks the knight with h3, and Black mates on h2.
How White avoids it: play 9.Rd1 instead of 9.h3.
Black sets the trap · ends in mate
Kieninger Trap
Indian Defense: Budapest Gambit Accepted, Main Line, Rubinstein Variation
A Budapest Gambit trap. White takes the free bishop, and a knight check on d3 turns out to be mate.
How White avoids it: play 8.Nxe5 instead of 8.axb4.
Black sets the trap · wins material
Fishing Pole Trap
Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Fishing Pole Variation
Black dangles a knight as bait. If White takes it, the open h-file brings a mating attack.
How White avoids it: play 6.c3 instead of 6.hxg4.
Black sets the trap · wins material
Noah's Ark Trap
Ruy Lopez: Noah's Ark Trap
A Ruy Lopez trap with a chain of Black pawns that cages White's bishop on b3.
How White avoids it: play 8.a4 instead of 8.Qxd4.
Black sets the trap · wins material
Elephant Trap
Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Knight Defense
In the Queen's Gambit Declined, the knight on f6 only looks pinned. Grabbing d5 costs White a piece.
How White avoids it: play 6.e3 instead of 6.Nxd5.
Black sets the trap · wins material
Lasker Trap
Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit, Lasker Trap
An Albin Countergambit trap with a rare underpromotion: the pawn becomes a knight with check.
How White avoids it: play 6.fxe3 instead of 6.Bxb4.
Black sets the trap · wins material
Mortimer Trap
Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation, Mortimer Trap
A sneaky Ruy Lopez trap. Black lets e5 go, then a queen check forks the king and the knight.
How White avoids it: play 5.Nc3 instead of 5.Nxe5.
White sets the trap · ends in mate
English Rook Sacrifice Trap
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Three Knights, Fianchetto Variation
A risky trap: White gives up a whole rook. If Black grabs it and then also takes the d4 pawn, a knight check on f6 and a bishop on h6 deliver mate.
How Black avoids it: play 9...f5 instead of 9...Nxd4.
White sets the trap · ends in mate
English Queen Sacrifice Trap
English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System
White offers the queen on d4. If Black takes it, a knight check on f6 and a bishop on h6 deliver mate.
How Black avoids it: play 6...Nce7 instead of 6...Nge7.
Caro-Kann knight sacrifices
Three sharp knight sacrifices against the Caro-Kann. They work when Black slips, not against best play, so learn the refutation too.
White sets the trap · wins material
ICBM Gambit
Caro-Kann Defense: Dinic Gambit
White gives up two pawns, aiming at f7. If Black kicks the knight with ...h6 (or develops with ...Nf6), White's knight sacrifice wins the queen.
How Black avoids it: play 5...Nd7 instead of 5...h6.
White sets the trap · wins material
Alien Gambit
Caro-Kann Defense: Alien Gambit
White sacrifices a knight on f7. Taking it is Black's best answer. If Black saves the queen first, the knight escapes with the rook.
How Black avoids it: play 6...Kxf7 instead of 6...Qa5+.
White sets the trap · ends in mate
Martian Gambit
Caro-Kann Defense: Martian Gambit
Another knight sacrifice, this time on e6. With best play Black is better, but one natural move lets White mate in a few moves.
How Black avoids it: play 9...Nf6 instead of 9...Nd7.
Classic attacking sacrifices
Patterns every attacking player should know by heart.
White sets the trap · ends in mate
Greek Gift Sacrifice
French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation
The classic bishop sacrifice on h7. Bishop takes h7 with check, knight to g5 with check, queen to h5, and mate is coming.
How Black avoids it: play 7...f5 instead of 7...c5.