Answers.Body: <p>One sort of not-always-obvious trap that players can fall into are pawn forks that aren't immediately apparent in a given position. For instance:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN ""]
  
  1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 Bc5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Nge2 Be6 $2 7.d4 $1
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Here White wins material since <code>7. d4!</code> gains time against the bishop on c5, and can then push on to d5. I've actually won with this exact tactic in more than one OTB tournament game, even against A-class players; and in internet blitz it's happened countless times. If you're not used to playing the black side here, I think it can be easy to miss the shot before you let go of the bishop on e6. This same kind of scenario can arise in other positions with a lot of centrally-located minor pieces.</p>
  
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Answers.Text: +1 (tomorrow!): I have fallen for this enough to be wary of it now.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Daniel
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Answers.Text: Just after you posted this, my favorite channel the Chess Network [made a video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtC6XhBLtqs&feature=g-all-u)  The best part is the comment:  "I have allegedly embezzled some securities and now im in a legal trap myself...any tips?"
Answers.UserDisplayName: EPN
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Answers.Text: @EricNaslund, I suppose you meant your comment for Daniel's answer. :)
Answers.UserDisplayName: ETD
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Answers.Text: @EdDean - Just curious, this only works for white because of the pawn on `e3` correct?, because after `7. d4`, then it is `7...exd4`, `8. exd4` `8...Bb3`, `9. d5`
Answers.UserDisplayName: xaisoft
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Answers.Text: @xaisoft: Bingo (though there's a typo, `8. ... Bb4` is what I assume you meant).
Answers.UserDisplayName: ETD
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Answers.Text: @EdDean - Actually had my numbers mixed up. I was thinking of `8... Bb6`, but is there a disadvantage to this compared to `8...Bb4`?
Answers.UserDisplayName: xaisoft
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Answers.Text: @xaisoft, No, it doesn't really matter.
Answers.UserDisplayName: ETD
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Answers.Body: <p>I can also think of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9gal_Trap" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Légal Trap</a> in the Italian Game or Philidor Defense (Black's 2<sup>nd</sup> and 3<sup>rd</sup> moves may be transposed).  It involves a Queen sacrifice:</p>
  <pre><code>[FEN &quot;&quot;]
  
  1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6 4.Nc3 Bg4 5.h3 Bh5 $2 6.Nxe5 $1 Bxd1 $4 7.Bxf7+ Ke7 8.Nd5#
  </code></pre>
  <p>Wikipedia has a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_chess_traps" rel="nofollow noreferrer">list of common chess traps</a>, though it's not exhaustive:</p>
  <blockquote>
  <p>Ordered by chess opening:</p>
  <ul>
  <li>Albin Countergambit – <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lasker_Trap" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Lasker Trap</a></li>
  <li>Blackmar-Diemer Gambit – <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halosar_Trap" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Halosar Trap</a></li>
  <li>Bogo-Indian Defence – <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monticelli_Trap" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Monticelli Trap</a></li>
  <li>Budapest Gambit – <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kieninger_Trap" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Kieninger Trap</a></li>
  <li>Italian Game – <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackburne_Shilling_Gambit" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Blackburne Shilling Gambit</a></li>
  <li>Petrov's Defence – <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Trap" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Marshall Trap</a></li>
  <li>Philidor Defence – <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9gal_Trap" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Légal Trap</a></li>
  <li>Queen's Gambit Declined – <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_Trap" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Elephant Trap</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubinstein_Trap" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Rubinstein Trap</a></li>
  <li>Ruy Lopez – <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortimer_Trap" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mortimer Trap</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah%27s_Ark_Trap" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Noah's Ark Trap</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarrasch_Trap" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Tarrasch Trap</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rombaua_Trap" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Rombaua Trap</a></li>
  <li>Sicilian Defence – <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_Smith_Trap" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Magnus Smith Trap</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_Trap" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Siberian Trap</a></li>
  <li>Vienna Gambit – <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C3%BCrzburger_Trap" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Würzburger Trap</a></li>
  </ul>
  <p>Many more opening traps, all ending in checkmate, are given under <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkmates_in_the_opening" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Checkmates in the opening</a>.</p>
  </blockquote>
  <p>Also, chess.com's blog has <a href="http://blog.chess.com/view/traps-traps-and-more-traps" rel="nofollow noreferrer">a post about traps</a>, which includes some which Wikipedia doesn't (like the Fischer Trap), and you can play through them on that page.</p>
  
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Answers.Text: Legal's mate is surprisingly common. One should really watch out for it in the English Opening (where it can turn up as a motif for black).
Answers.UserDisplayName: BlindKungFuMaster
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Answers.Text: I've always liked that one. I still play e4 + Nf3 + Bc4 regularly just in case someone slips up.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Eve Freeman
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Answers.Text: I once managed a Legal's mate around 7 years ago in an informal game on Yahoo! Chess. That and the smothered mate, which I've also only done once, have always been my favorites of the "basic mates".
Answers.UserDisplayName: Robert Kaucher
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Answers.LastEditDate: 2020-06-17T09:59:59.497Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Daniel
Answers.Body: <p>I've won quite a few games in this line of Cambridge Springs in blitz.</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN ""]
  
  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 c6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5 7. Bd3 Ne4 8. Qc2
  Nxg5 9. Nxg5 dxc4
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>And black is winning a piece since, knight on g5 and Bishop on d3 are both attacked.</p>
  
  <p>Notes:</p>
  
  <p>1)<code>7. Bd3</code> looks logical, but it not the best move (though it is not losing). Main-line moves are: <code>7. Nd2</code> and <code>7. cxd5</code>.</p>
  
  <p>2)<code>8. Qc2</code> looks logical, it protects the knight on c3 and attacks the black knight on e4;
  however, this move loses a piece. Better for white is <code>8. Bxe4 dxe4 9. Ne5</code> with roughly equal position.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
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Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-11-14T17:19:34.467Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2012-11-14T17:19:34.467Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Akavall
Answers.Body: <p>I have noticed that new players who learn opening principles like "don't move the same piece more than one time", "concentrate on the center" often fall into the trap of blindly following these general principles and totally overlook simple tactical threats. A typical blunder example:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN ""]
  
  1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nd4?? 4.c3
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Black is toast because the knight is trapped.</p>
  
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Answers.LastEditDate: 2019-07-24T16:36:37.520Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: AnonymousLurker
Answers.Body: <p>Videos on many of traps can be found at <a href="http://www.thechesswebsite.com/chess-traps/index.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.thechesswebsite.com/chess-traps/index.php</a></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-06-13T06:55:08.993Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-06-13T06:55:08.993Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: xaisoft
Answers.Body: <p>There are several traps in the Ponziani, e.g. leaving the pawn on e4 unprotected, and if the knight takes it, <code>Qa4+</code> is winning the knight. Or pushing the d-pawn threatening the knight: If it goes forward instead of b8 or e7, it's lost.</p>
  
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Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-07-24T16:37:39.183Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2019-07-24T16:37:39.183Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Landei
Answers.Body: <p>There are 40 traps from wikipedia in an expandable chess openings tree at <a href="http://www.chesstree.net" rel="nofollow">http://www.chesstree.net</a></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-03-05T12:57:48.157Z
Answers.Text: Grab the background canvas to drag the tree around.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Martin
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Answers.CreationDate: 2022-08-07T02:24:15.203Z
Answers.Text: Click the checkbox 'trap collection' in that website. Oh, I don't see a simple way to view trap lines alone from it. If you want to check out trap lines in your opening of choice, you can use this.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Cyriac Antony
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Answers.UserDisplayName: Martin
Body: <p>What are some of the most common traps to be aware of?  </p>
  
  <p>I am talking about examples such as</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1tc7wwhLNY&amp;feature=plcp">The Fishing Pole Trap</a></p></li>
  <li><p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_ED8vrQQlM&amp;feature=plcp">The Lasker Trap in the Albin Counter Gambit</a></p></li>
  <li><p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCn1i2iZKqo&amp;feature=plcp">The Rubinstein Trap in the Queen's Gambit Declined</a></p></li>
  <li><p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KskXvXxlkCM&amp;feature=plcp">The Noah's Ark Trap in the Ruy Lopez</a></p></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>While such traps are easy to avoid in long games, they can come up and be quite effective in bullet games.</p>
  
Tags: <blitz><bullet-chess>
Title: What are some common chess traps?
ThreadText: # What are some common chess traps?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2012-06-12)
  
  What are some of the most common traps to be aware of?
  
  I am talking about examples such as
  
  * [The Fishing Pole Trap](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1tc7wwhLNY&feature=plcp)
  * [The Lasker Trap in the Albin Counter Gambit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_ED8vrQQlM&feature=plcp)
  * [The Rubinstein Trap in the Queen's Gambit Declined](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCn1i2iZKqo&feature=plcp)
  * [The Noah's Ark Trap in the Ruy Lopez](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KskXvXxlkCM&feature=plcp)
  
  While such traps are easy to avoid in long games, they can come up and be quite effective in bullet games.
  
  **Tags:** blitz, bullet-chess
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 7 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2012-06-12. Score: 15
  
  One sort of not-always-obvious trap that players can fall into are pawn forks that aren't immediately apparent in a given position. For instance:
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  
  1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 Bc5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Nge2 Be6 $2 7.d4 $1
  
  ```
  
  Here White wins material since `7. d4!` gains time against the bishop on c5, and can then push on to d5. I've actually won with this exact tactic in more than one OTB tournament game, even against A-class players; and in internet blitz it's happened countless times. If you're not used to playing the black side here, I think it can be easy to miss the shot before you let go of the bishop on e6. This same kind of scenario can arise in other positions with a lot of centrally-located minor pieces.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: +1 (tomorrow!): I have fallen for this enough to be wary of it now.  
  > **username_0**: Just after you posted this, my favorite channel the Chess Network [made a video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtC6XhBLtqs&feature=g-all-u)  The best part is the comment:  "I have allegedly embezzled some securities and now im in a legal trap myself...any tips?"  
  > **username_1**: @EricNaslund, I suppose you meant your comment for username_2's answer. :)  
  > **username_3**: @EdDean - Just curious, this only works for white because of the pawn on `e3` correct?, because after `7. d4`, then it is `7...exd4`, `8. exd4` `8...Bb3`, `9. d5`  
  > **username_1**: @username_3: Bingo (though there's a typo, `8. ... Bb4` is what I assume you meant).  
  > **username_3**: @EdDean - Actually had my numbers mixed up. I was thinking of `8... Bb6`, but is there a disadvantage to this compared to `8...Bb4`?  
  > **username_1**: @username_3, No, it doesn't really matter.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2012-06-12. Score: 8
  
  I can also think of the [Légal Trap](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9gal_Trap) in the Italian Game or Philidor Defense (Black's 2nd and 3rd moves may be transposed). It involves a Queen sacrifice:
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  
  1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6 4.Nc3 Bg4 5.h3 Bh5 $2 6.Nxe5 $1 Bxd1 $4 7.Bxf7+ Ke7 8.Nd5#
  
  ```
  
  Wikipedia has a [list of common chess traps](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_chess_traps), though it's not exhaustive:
  
  > Ordered by chess opening:
  >
  > * Albin Countergambit – [Lasker Trap](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lasker_Trap)
  > * Blackmar-Diemer Gambit – [Halosar Trap](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halosar_Trap)
  > * Bogo-Indian Defence – [Monticelli Trap](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monticelli_Trap)
  > * Budapest Gambit – [Kieninger Trap](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kieninger_Trap)
  > * Italian Game – [Blackburne Shilling Gambit](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackburne_Shilling_Gambit)
  > * Petrov's Defence – [Marshall Trap](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Trap)
  > * Philidor Defence – [Légal Trap](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9gal_Trap)
  > * Queen's Gambit Declined – [Elephant Trap](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_Trap), [Rubinstein Trap](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubinstein_Trap)
  > * Ruy Lopez – [Mortimer Trap](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortimer_Trap), [Noah's Ark Trap](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah%27s_Ark_Trap), [Tarrasch Trap](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarrasch_Trap), [Rombaua Trap](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rombaua_Trap)
  > * Sicilian Defence – [Magnus Smith Trap](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_Smith_Trap), [Siberian Trap](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_Trap)
  > * Vienna Gambit – [Würzburger Trap](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C3%BCrzburger_Trap)
  >
  > Many more opening traps, all ending in checkmate, are given under [Checkmates in the opening](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkmates_in_the_opening).
  
  Also, chess.com's blog has [a post about traps](http://blog.chess.com/view/traps-traps-and-more-traps), which includes some which Wikipedia doesn't (like the Fischer Trap), and you can play through them on that page.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_5**: I've always liked that one. I still play e4 + Nf3 + Bc4 regularly just in case someone slips up.  
  > **username_6**: I once managed a Legal's mate around 7 years ago in an informal game on Yahoo! Chess. That and the smothered mate, which I've also only done once, have always been my favorites of the "basic mates".  
  > **username_4**: Legal's mate is surprisingly common. One should really watch out for it in the English Opening (where it can turn up as a motif for black).  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_7 on 2012-06-13. Score: 5
  
  I've won quite a few games in this line of Cambridge Springs in blitz.
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  
  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 c6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5 7. Bd3 Ne4 8. Qc2
  Nxg5 9. Nxg5 dxc4
  
  ```
  
  And black is winning a piece since, knight on g5 and Bishop on d3 are both attacked.
  
  Notes:
  
  1)`7. Bd3` looks logical, but it not the best move (though it is not losing). Main-line moves are: `7. Nd2` and `7. cxd5`.
  
  2)`8. Qc2` looks logical, it protects the knight on c3 and attacks the black knight on e4;
  however, this move loses a piece. Better for white is `8. Bxe4 dxe4 9. Ne5` with roughly equal position.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_8 on 2012-07-20. Score: 4
  
  I have noticed that new players who learn opening principles like "don't move the same piece more than one time", "concentrate on the center" often fall into the trap of blindly following these general principles and totally overlook simple tactical threats. A typical blunder example:
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  
  1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nd4?? 4.c3
  
  ```
  
  Black is toast because the knight is trapped.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2012-06-13. Score: 3
  
  Videos on many of traps can be found at <http://www.thechesswebsite.com/chess-traps/index.php>
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_9 on 2012-09-04. Score: 3
  
  There are several traps in the Ponziani, e.g. leaving the pawn on e4 unprotected, and if the knight takes it, `Qa4+` is winning the knight. Or pushing the d-pawn threatening the knight: If it goes forward instead of b8 or e7, it's lost.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_10 on 2015-03-05. Score: 0
  
  There are 40 traps from wikipedia in an expandable chess openings tree at <http://www.chesstree.net>
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_10**: Grab the background canvas to drag the tree around.  
  > **username_11**: Click the checkbox 'trap collection' in that website. Oh, I don't see a simple way to view trap lines alone from it. If you want to check out trap lines in your opening of choice, you can use this.  
  
  ---
  
  