Penrose Gambit

This game arose from a variation of Catalan Opening.  It was actually played by Veitch and Penrose in Buxton, 1950.

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, e6
3. Nf3, d5
4. g3, dxc4
5. Nbd2, c5
6. dxc5, Bxc5
7. Bg2 ....

7. .... Bxf2

A lightning strike!  If White declines the Bishop (8. Kf1), then Black wins by 8.....Ng4 which threatens to win the Queen with 9....Ne3.  If 9. Qa4 Bd7, 10. Qxc4 Ne3+ wins the Queen just the same.

8. Kxf2, Ng4+
9. Ke1 ....

White's other choices are equally gloomy.  If 9. Kf1 then Black wins the Queen with 10....Ne3+.  If 9. Kg1 then 9.....Qb6+ with mate to follow.

9. .... Ne3

White resigns. His Queen is lost after 10. Qa4+ Bd7, then on 11. Qa3 or Qb4, Black forks the Queen and King after 11.....Nc2+.   A fantastic attack.

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Nisimura Trap

The following game was played by NISIMURA (White) and MARCO (Black) at the 1982 Olympics.

1. e4, c6
2. Nf3, d5
3. Nc3, dxe4
4. Nxe4, Nbd7

Until now, the moves are specific to the Caro-Kann Defense.  But White sets a trap at the next move.

5. Qe2, Ngf6
6. Nd6 mate

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The Staunton Gambit

In some ways similar to From's Gambit, the game runs as follows:

1. d4, f5
2. e4, fxe4
3. Nc3, d5

If 3.... Nf6, then 4. Bg5 still putting pressure on the d5 square, and indirectly on the e4 pawn. Now, if Black plays the correct 4....Nc6, then the game may continue: 5. Bxf6 exf6.  White should avoid 6. Nxe4 because of 6.....Qe7 winning material.

4. Qh5+, g6
5. Qxd5, Qxd5
6. Nxd5, Kd8
7. Bf4 ....

Black has no way of salvaging his c-pawn or his Rook.

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Owen's Defense

Rarely played, the Owen's Defense has been discovered to be tactically flawed.  It runs as follows:

1. e4, b6
2. d4, Bb7
3. Bd3, f5

Black offers the pawn as a gambit, which in fact is a losing move.

4. exf5, Bxg2
5. Qh5+, g6
6. fxg6, Nf6

Black intends to drive the Queen away, an underestimation of White's attacking strength.

7. gxh7+, Nxh5
8. Bg6+ mate.

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Royal Surrender

In this variation of the Modern Defense, White takes advantage of Black's constricted position and the vulnerability of the f7 pawn.

1. e4, g6
2. d4, Bg7
3. Nf3, d6
4. Bc4, Nd7??

The losing move. White jumps quickly on the vulnerable f7 pawn.

5. Bxf7 ....

5. .... Kxf7

Black captures the Bishop on what seems to be a correct reply.  But it would be wiser not to take the offer: 5....Kf8, 6. Ng5 Nb6, 7. Qf3, f6 and White's attack would slowly fizzle out.

6. Ng5+!! ....

The timebomb!  The King cannot retreat to e8 or f8 because of the threat 7. Ne6. The King has no choice but to come forward and surrender.

6. .... Kf6
7. Qf3+ mate

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Legal's Trap

This game features a daring Queen sacrifice.  The moves are:

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, d6
3. Bc4, Bg4
4. Nc3, g6?
5. Nxe5!, Bxd1
6. Bxf7+. Ke7
7. Ne5 mate.

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Kieninger Trap

The Kieninger Trap is a combination in the Budapest Gambit, and named after German International Master Georg Kieninger, who was the first to use it effectively. This gambit offers a piece in exchange for a tricky mate. The moves are:

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, e5
3. dxe5, Ng4
4. Nf3, Nc6
5. Bf4, Bb4+
6. Nbd2, Qe7
7. a3 ....

White intends to drive the Bishop or exchange it for the Knight.  But Black lays the trap...

7. ....Ngxe5
8. Nxe5, Nxe5
9. axb4, Nd3 mate.


Another trick in Budapest Gambit runs as follows:

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, e5
3. dxe5, Ne4
4. Nf3, d6
5. exd6, Bxd6
6. g3, Nxf2

7. Kxf2, Bxg3

White loses his Queen.

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Lasker's Trap (Albin Counter Gambit)

This is one of the most popular tricks and runs as follows:

1. d4, d5
2. c4, e5
3. dxe5,d4
4. e3? ....

White should play 4. Nf3 in order to put pressure on the Queen's pawn.

4. .... Bb4+
5. Bd2, dxe3!

6. Bxb4? ....

White might fare better if 6. Qa4+ Nc6, 7. fxe3 Qh4+, 8. Kd1 (not 8. g3 because of 8....Qe4) Qf2, etc.

6..... exf2+
7. Ke2, exg1=N+
8. Rxg1, Bg4+

and Black captures the Queen on d1.

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Jailbird Queen

 This game is a variation of the English Defense.

1. c4, b6
2. Nc3, Bb7
3. e4, e6
4. Nf3, Bb4
5. Qb3, Na6
6. a3, Nc5!
7. Qxb4, a5
8. Qb5, c6!

The Queen is trapped.  White should not have captured the Bishop and instead played 7. Qc2, and the game may continue 7.....Bxc3, 8. Qxc3 Nxe4, 9. Qxg7 Qf6, etc.

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The Queen's Gambit

This game is a variation of the Queen's Gambit Accepted.

1. d4, d5
2. c4, dxc4
3. e3, b5
4. a4, c6?
5. axb5, cxb5
6. Qf3! ...

The move wins at least a Knight. The best move for Black (to save the Rook but not necessarily the game) is 6....Nc6, then  7. Qxc6 Bd7 which drives the Queen away.

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The Scholar's Mate

1. e4, e5
2. Qh5, Nc6
3. Bc4, Nf6
4. Qxf7 mate.

It is incredible to note how many players fall into this trap, especially in Internet chess servers.

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The Fool's Mate

This is one of the oldest tricks on record and only a player with little or no knowledge of chess theories would do it. The moves are:

1. f4, e6
2. g4, Qh4 mate

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King's Gambit Accepted

Chess tricks abound in  King's Gambit Accepted. Click on the link and get transported to Brilliant Chess Games where games of such category are analyzed. 

Short and Brilliant Chess Games

If you are looking for short (yet brilliant) games of chess, you may visit  Brilliant Chess Games,  a site for chess enthusiasts all over the world. There you will find the immortal games of our chess masters, old and new.