Traps in Sound Position

[Black "<Ruy Lopez>"]
{Yet more Ruy Lopez
Its yet another small trap in the innocent-looking Ruy Lopez.}

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nge7 {We have seen the cozio before.} 4.Nc3 a6 5.Ba4 b5 6.Bb3 h6! {(prevents Ng5)} 7.d4 d6 8.a4 b4 9.Nd5 Bg4?
{Looks like theory...}
10.Nxe5!! { Bxd1? 11.Nf6+ gxf6 12.Bxf7 mate
but isnt. They call it the 'legall's trap'. Watch out for it in cramped positions.
Correct continuation is }
10. ... Nxe5 11.f3 Nxf3 12.gxf3 Bh3 13.Nxb4 {followed by Be3. White has a lot of advantages and an extra pawn to boot.}


[Black "<Sicilian: Sozin Variation>"]
{Greed and Position}

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.0-0 b5 8.Bb3 b4 9.Nb1 {A great deal of deep thought must have invented a gambit such as this. Must the pawn be taken?}
9..... Nxe4
{Now, please note 10.Qe1? d5! 11.f3? Qb6 and the ball is in black's court.
The correct continuation is} 10.Re1
{Now, the main line is 10.... d5 11.c4! bxc3 12.Nxc3 {and the game is level, with white's development compensating the black pawn. Black's pawn structure is best left unmoved and and white must concentrate on the queenside to equalise.
However, falling for catastrophe is the obvious move}
10.... Bb7? 11.Bxe6!! fxe6 12.Nd2! d5 13.Nxe6 Qe7 14.Nxe4 dxe4 15.Qh5+ Kd7 { (g6? 15.Qe5 is a lucrative trap)} 16.Nd8!! Qxd8 17.Rd1+ Bd6 18.Bf4 {white is winning because of a strong attack.}

[Black "<Caro-Kann Defense: Steinitz Variation>"]
{Bugspray

If black eludes temptation he may come out alright.}
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Ng5! h6?
{Black tries the bug-spray on the intruding knight (5.... e6 6.c3 is rite)}
6.Ne6! { The pointe, of course, is simple: 6....fxe6 7.Qh5+ and mate. But a further reason is for obstructing the e pawn and ruining black castling.}
6.... Qa5+ 7.Bd2 Qb6
{Here a positional continuation is} 8.Bd3! {when the trap is}
8.... fxe6? 9.Qh5+ Kd8 10.Ba5 {pinning the queen.
But if u like to experiment then beware that 8.c4!? really sacrifices the e6 knight and you get some advantage in return.
8.... fxe6 9.Qh5+ g6! 10.Qxg6+ Kd8 and the queen is safe but black is in a sticky position. 11.Bc3 Ngf6 12.Nf3 when black is disorganised, and white will want to use it.
I suggest one must learn to use the "bugspray" variation as black too, and there are lots of chances for black in either lines. }

[Black "<Caro-Kann defense>"]
{Light
A variation-free trap, and another caro-kann.}

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Qd3! {A variation aiming for queenside castling.} e5! 6.dxe5 Qa5+ 7.Bd2 Qxe5 8.0-0-0 Nxe4
{Would the reader like to sympathise? He should.}
9.Qd8+!! Kxd8 10.Bg5+ Kc7 Bd8 {mate.}

[Black "<French Defense>"]
{Light Part 2
Here's another small, subtle, chic trap.}

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 b6 6.Ne2 c5 7.Nf4! cxd4? 8.Nxe6!! {black is crushed instantly.}
8.... fxe6? 9.Qh5+ Ke7(g6? Bxg6) 10.Bg5+ Nf6 11.exf6+ gxf6 12.Bxf6+ Kxf6 13.Qh4+ {wins the queen behind the king.
8.... Qe7? 9.Nxd5! Qxe6 10.Nc7+ wins the queen.
8.... Qh4? 9.Bg5! wins the queen}

[Black "<Sicilian: Andreaschek gambit>"]
{Light Part 3
Another simple trap.}

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.Nf3 e5! 4.c3! {gambits a pawn.(4.Nxe5?? Qa5+)}
4.... dxc3 5.Nxc3 d6 6.Bc4
{Only 6 moves have been played but the position is very dangerous,
because of the weakness f7.}
6.... Nf6? 7.Ng5 Be6 8.Nxe6
{or 6.... Be7? 7.Qb3
or 6.... h6? 7.Bxf7+! Kxf7 8.Nxe5+! Ke8 8.Qh5+ or 8.... Ke7 9.Ng6+ or 8.... Kf6 9.Qd4
or 6.... Bg4? 7.Bxf7+! Kxf7 8.Nxe5+! Ke8 9.Nxg4 is a pawn up.
even 6.... Be6? 7.Bxe6 fxe6 8.Qb3 Qd7 9.Ng5 wins back the pawn with advantage.
Is black hopeless?
or 6.... Nc6! 7.Ng5 Nh6 8.Qd5 Qf6 9.0-0 White has an attack, but the game is yet undecided.}

[Black " <Caro-kann Defense> " ]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3! {This is Tartakower's fantasy variation.} dxe4 4.fxe4 e5! 5.Nf3 exd4 6.Bc4! Bb4+ 7.c3! dxc3 8.Bxf7+
{the correct continuation is 8.... Ke7! 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.Bg5+ Nf6 11.bxc3}
{Coming back, black can also notice that cxb2+ will queen the b-pawn winning a rook. so he plays} 8.... Kxf7!! 9.Qxd8 cxb2+ 10.Ke2 bxa1Q.
{But what black didnt notice was his kings danger}. 11.Ng5+ Kg6 12.Qe8+ Kh6 13.Ne6+ g5 14.Bxg5 {mate.}

[Black "<Sicilian Zagreb>"]
{Light Part 4}

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.g3! {I feel the zagreb is a seriously underestimated opening.} b5 7.Bg2 Bb7 8.0-0 e6 9.Re1 Nbd7
{Normal isn't it? But the trap is set already.}
10.e5! Bxg2 11.exf6 Bb7 12.fxg7 Bxg7 13.Nf5! Bf8 14.Rxe6+! fxe6 15.Qh5 {mate}

[Black "<Guioco Piano>"]
{Steinitz}

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.Bg5 h6
{This is a key position already. Correct is
7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.Nc3 Ne7 {followed by all manners of positional necessities like ... c6.
But } 7.Bh4? g5 8.Bg3 h5! {Black appears to have missed}
9.Nxg5 h4 10.Nxf7 hxg3!! {this queen sacrifice buys time.} 11.Nxd8 Bg4 {the f2 pawn is pinned.} 12.Qd2 {(Qe1 invites the same fate)
before proceeding,
12.Qxg4? Nxg4 13.hxg3 Kxd8 is a piece up, as also is
12.Nf7? Bxf2+ 13.Rxf2 gxf2 14.Kxf2 Bxd1 15.Nxd8 Bh5}
12.... Nd4
{ 13.Nf7? Rxh2! 14.Ng4 Ne2+ 15.Qxe2 Bxe2 followed by Bxf1}
13.Nc3 Nf3+! 14.gxf3 Bxf3 15.hxg3 {(else gxh2 mate)} Rh1 {mate
This was a game played, as black, by W. Steinitz (the first world champion) over a century ago.
The reader will not believe it if they were told how many people fall for it even today.}

[Black "<Larsen's Opening>"]

{Wrong side
Can a player remain quiet in his opening and still win in 12 moves?}

1.b3 d5 2.Bb2 c5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e3 Nf6
{this line is quite usual.} 5.Bb5 e6 6.Ne5! Qc7 7.0-0 Bd6 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.f4 0-0 {(if Nd7 directly the Nxd7... and Bxg7)} 10. Rf3! {with his queenside still undeveloped white begins an assault.} Nd7 11.Rh3!
{now,}
{11... Bxe5 12.fxe5 Nxe5 13.Qh5! wins a piece.
Black sees the trick, so to prevent Qh5,}
11.... g6 {but}
12.Qh5!! {resigns}
12.... gxh5? 13.Rg3+ Kh8 14.Nxf7 {mate}
{12.... Nf6? 13.Qh6 Rd8 Nd7!
Black was better developed, but on the wrong side, unfortunately.}

[Black "<Sicilian Scheveningen>"]
{Triumphant}

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 Be7 8.0-0-0 0-0
{Its deep into the opening, but we have all seen these moves a hundred times. Now white is trying to bag a pawn.]
9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Nb5
{10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Qxd6 white looks triumphant, but
11.... Qa5! 12.Qxc6 Bb7!! a complete shocker 13.Qxb7 Rab8
now,
14.Qa6 Bg5+ 15.Kb1 Qxc3! regains the piece and a lovely attack.
14.Qc6 Rfc8 15.Qa4 Bg5+ 16.Kb1 Qxc3
14.Qd7? Rxb2!! 15.Kxb2 Qxc3+ 16.Kc1 Bg5+ 17.Kb1 (or Rd2 Qa1 mate) Rb8+ 18.Bb5 Qb4+ 19.Ka1 Bf6+ concludes a fantastic combination.
Coming back to our more peaceful main line,}
10.... Qa5 11.Qxd6? {the trap is already set}
{11.Nxd6? Nb4 wins, if you care to analyse further.}
11.... a6 12.Na3
{Note 12.Nc7? Be5 fishes the knight}
12.... Bxc3 13.Nc4!
{If 13.Bxc3? Rd8 and black's queen cannot protect a3}
13.... Bc4! 14.Nxa5 Bxd6 15.Nxc6 Bg5+ 16.Kb1 bxc6 {a piece up for black.}

[Black "<Sicilian Scheveningen: Tal Variation>"]
{Tal}

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.f4 Nc6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qf3
{This is called the Tal variation, and for good reason.} a6 9.0-0-0
{Its one of those rare positions when black sets a trap and white falls for it purposefully.}
9.... Nxd4 10.Bxd4!
{The trap could be avoided by 10.Rxd4, making an equal position with chances for both sides.}
10.... e5! {Black's intentions become apparent. Bg4 wins material. But white co-operates willingly.}
11.fxe5 Bg4 12.exf6!! {the queen sacrifice is positional in nature.}
12.... Bxf3 13.fxe7 Qxe7 14.gxf3
{This position needs analysis. White has three pieces against the black queen, and the pawn count is equal. But black's structure is tottering. Weak pawns and lack of knights and bishops has rendered the position easy to attack. Black cannot castle either side.}
14.... 0-0? 15.Rg1 f6 16.Bc4+ Kh8 17.Nd5 {The attack is obvious and comfortable. The aim now is to restrict the opponent with Nb6, Bd5, and then use the rooks to score.
OR

14.... 0-0-0? 15.Rg1 f6 16.Nd5 Qf7 17.Bh3+ Kb8 18.Bb6 and again black is succumbing.
OR
14.... Qg5+ 15.Rd2 f6 16.Rg1 Qh6 17.Nd5 Rc8 18.Ne3! followed by Nf5. Black is defeated slowly and steadily, and black's two rooks and queen are not enough defence. Soon the material imbalance will tip towards white's favour. }

[Black "<Goering Gambit>"]
{Spielmann}

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3! {is the Goering Gambit, well practiced and in fashion for over a hundred years.} 4.... d5! {the best defence against it. Black does not bag an extra pawn but gets tempo, and soon brings the advantage with the following natural moves.}
5.exd5 Qxd5 6.cxd4 Bg4 7.Be2 Nf6 8.Nc3 Qh5 9.0-0 Bd6
{Black has set the threat of Bxf3 and Qxh2 mate.
10.Nb5? Bxh2+ 11.Nxh2 Bxe2 12.Re1 Qxb5 13.Qxe2 Qxe2 14.Rxe2+ Kd7 wins a pawn.
so,}
10.h3,{ the best defence.}
10.... 0-0-0! {a knight is sacrificed.} 11.hxg4 Nxg4 12.g3 {(else Bh2+)} Qh3 {(else Kg2)} 13.Ne4
{For instance, 13.Re1?? Bxg3! 14.fxg3 (Bf1? Bxf2 mate) Qxg3+ 15.Kh1 Nf2 mate.}
13.... Be7! {protects g5. Very tempting is
13.... Bxg3! 14.Neg5! (Nxg3? Nxd4!) Bh2+ 15.Kh1 Qh5 16.Kg2 when black may wriggle out.
Now, whites only hope is}
14.Re1
{14.Be3 ends with the terrible f5! 15.Ned2 Nxe3 16.fxe3 Qxg3+ 17.Kh1 18.Rd6 Nh2 Rh6 19.Bh5 Bd6 20.Rf4 Bxf4 21.exf4 Qh4 (Leonhardt vs Spielmann, 1906)
The position is complicated, and analysis can be stopped here.
but using Fritz, my aid to fuzzy positions,}
14.... Rxd4 15.Bf1! Qh5 16.Bd2 {(Qc2 may last, the following game isn't forced so Im not analysing it)} f5 17.Nc3 Bc5! 18.Re2 Rhd8 19.Nb1 f4! { and the attack soon yields.}

[Black "<Ruy Lopez>"]
{Security Concerns

I never get tired of endless traps in the Ruy Lopez, and I hope you don't, either.}
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.0-0 d6!? {Black has foolish security concerns, after the brave Bc5}
5.b4! Bxb4 6.d4
{Move 5 was not a gambit like those in the previous posts. It was a temporary pawn sacrifice.
There are the traps 6.... exd4? 7.Bxc6 bxc6 8.Qxd4 Qf6 9.e5 dxe5 10.Qxb4
and 6.... Nf6? 7.c3 Ba5 8.Qa4 Bb6 9.d5 a6 10.dxc6
and 6.... Nge7? 7.c3 Ba5 8.Qa4 0-0 9.d5 Bxc6 10.Nxc6 dxc6
all winning a piece (Bg4 and Qf6 are also similar mistakes).}
6.... Bd7 {is forced.} 7.dxe5 dxe5
{or 7... Nxe5 8.Nxe5 dxe5 9.Qd5 regains the pawn with good advantage.}
8.Bxc6 Bxc6 9.Nxe5 Qxd1
{if black plays the tempting 9.... Bxe4? 10.Qg4 10.Qg4 Nf6 11.Qxg7 Rf8 12.Bf6 Be7 13.Re1 is winning}
10.Rxd1
{with equality and the farewell trap 10.... Bxe4? 11.Rd4 }


[Black "<Pirc Defence>"]
{More Tal}

1.e4 d6 2.d4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 c6 5.Bg5 Qb6 6.Qd2 {a pawn is gambitted.}
6.... Qxb2 7.Rb1 Qa3 8.Bc4 Qa5 9.0-0 e6! {Tal's opponent takes an extra protective measure?
9.... Nd7 would have probably started firework too. 10.Qf4! Ngf6 11.e5! in Tal's style (see Nc3 hanging) but I am not going into it.}
10.Re1 a6! {in preparation of b5
If directly 10.... b5? 11.Nxb5! Qxd2 12.Nxd6+ Kd7 13.Bxd2 Kxd6 14.Bf4+ Ke7 15.Rxb8}
11.Bf4 e5
{The alternative is Qc7 which is ugly and b5! which leads to the intelligent Bxd6!.}
12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Qd6!! {white offers a choice of victims to black.} Qxc3
{Perhaps Tal's opponent discovered
13....exf4? 14.Nd5!! cxd5 15.exd5 Be6 16.dxe6 f6 17.Rxb7}
14.Red1 Nd7?
{14.... Qa5 15.Nxe5 Bxe5 16.Bxe5 wins too}
15.Bxf7+! Kxf7 16.Ng5+ Ke8 17.Qe6+ Ne7 18.Qf7+ Kd8 19.Ne6 mate
{or 17.... Kd8 18.Nf7+ Kc7 19.Qd6 mate }

[Black "<Sicilian Scheveningen>"]
{Decision Making}

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be2 Nc6 7.0-0 a6 8.Be3 Qc7
{Black's idea of the Scheveningen is what I generally apply, and I have had decent success with it to date.}
9.f4! Na5!? {black desires to break the bishop pair by Nc4.
I would have played the risky 9... b5!? but 10.Nxc6 Qxc6 11.e5 will put me under much pressure.}
10.f5! Nc4 {(10.... e5 11.Nb3 Nc4 12.Bg5!)} 11.Bxc4 Qxc4 12.fxe6
{There are two ways for black to capture the pawn, and one of them carries the fight, while the other loses.
The correct choice is 12.... Bxe6}
{The trap is } 12... fxe6? 13.Rxf6! gxf6 14.Qh5+ {1-0}{
The continuations are:
14... Kd7? 15.Qf7+ Be7 16.Nf5! Re8 17.Rd1! wins}
14... Kd8? 15.Qf7 Be7 16.Nf5! Re8 17.Nxd6! Bxd6 18.Bb6+ Bc7 19.Rd1+ Bd7 20.Qxd7 {mate. }

[Black "<QGD: Cambridge Springs Defence>"]
{Cambridge Springs}

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.Bg5 c6 6.e3 Qa5
{The QGD:CSD is named after a famous tournament that took place in cambridge springs many many years ago. There are an array of traps, set with the same theme, basically resulting in the conquest of Bg5, and you probably know all about them.}
7.cxd5 Nxd5 { white knows about them too (7.Bd3? Ne4)}
8.Qb3 Bb4 9.Rc1{ usually the fight centers around c3 in the CSD.}
9.... e5! {A fine move.} 10.Nxe5!
{10.dxe5? Nc5! 11.Qc2 Na4! Black wins.}
10.... Nxe5 11.dxe5 Be6
{The best continuation in my opinion is 12.Qc2 Qxa2! 13.Bd3, although black has an advantage. But interesting still is}
12.a3? Bxc3!
{because 12.... Nxc3? 13.Qxb4}
13.bxc3 0-0!
{Now black seems to have lost a pawn. If he had played 13.... Nxe3!? 14.Qxb7 would have lost the game. But now, Nxe3 is a real threat.}
14.Bc4
{A defence against the threat.}
14....h6 15.Bh4 Nxe3!! { and now black is won.}
16.fxe3
{The other trap is 16.Bxe6? Nxg2+ 17.Kf1 Nxh4.}
16.... Qc5! 17.Bxe6 Qxe3+ 18.Kd1 {(18.Kf1? fxe6+)} Qd3+ 19.Ke1 Qe4+ 20.Kd2 Rd8+! 21.Bxd8 Rxd8+ 22.Bd5 Rxd5+ {wins}

[Black "(Scotch Game)"]
{
1) Here is a very nice trap. (Scotch Game.)
=================================================
.
It begins:} 1. e4, e5 2. Nf3, Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nge7?!
{This is very bad and loses nearly instantly.}
5. Nc3 g6!?
{This is the plan Black had and why he developed his KN to e7.}
6. Bg5! Bg7
7. Nd5!
{(White can also keep the advantage with the simple 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Qf3)}
Bxd4!?
{(Maybe Black could try 7...f6 as a better defense. But if he donot realise what is waiting for him then he will play Bxd4 for sure).}

{Now what move would you play?
}
8. Qxd4! 8...0-0 {(If 8...Nxd4?; 9. Nf6+, Kf8; 10. Bh6#.)}
9. Nf6+! Kh8 10. Ng4+! Nxd4 11. Bf6+ Kg8 12. Nh6 {Check-Mate! }

mast

[Black "Sicilian"]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 0-0 8.Bb3!?
{
A very tricky move by Fischer ... that avoids a well-known trap.
( 8.f3!? Qb6!; 9.Bb3 Nxe4!!; 10.fxe4!? Bxd4!; and Black wins a Pawn. )}

8...Na5?
{A horrible move, this had been refuted in printed analysis over five years prior to this game.( With the simple: 8...d6; Black transposes back to book, and is probably fine.)}

9.e5!
9...Ne8?!
{After this move ... Black is just plain lost, materially speaking.
(Black HAD to play ...Nxb3.) ( In the line: >/= 9...Nxb3[]; 10.exf6 Nxa1; 11.fxg7 Nxc2+; 12.Qxc2 Kxg7; 13.Qd2, "+/=" White has a solid positional edge, and perhaps a won game ... BUT! ... At least Black is no worse off from a material standpoint. (Black has a Rook and TWO Pawns for the two Knights he lost.) )}

10.Bxf7+!!
10...Kxf7!?

{Either he does not see it yet, or he has already given up.
It might have been better to play ...Rxf7; and avoid the damage
to his pawn structure that Black incurs with this move.}

{ Or 10...Rxf7;(THERE IS A QUEEN TRAP HERE!!!) 11.Ne6 Qc7; 12.Nxc7 Nxc7; 13.f4, "+/-" }

11.Ne6!! { Not 11.Qf3+ Kg8; 12.Qd5+ Kh8; "-/+" }
11...dxe6

{This is more-or-less forced.
After the moves: </= 11...Kxe6?; ('??') 12.Qd5+ Kf5; 13.g4+! Kxg4; 14.Rg1+, ("+/-") Black is quickly mated. }

12.Qxd8 {("+/-") [ if 11 ... Kxe6 Then comes a series of forced moves leading to checkmate.}

{ (12. Qd5+ Kf5 13. g4+ Kxg4 14. Rg1+ Kh4 15. Bg5+ Kh5 16. Qd1+ Rf3 17. Qxf3# CheckMate)}