Boden's Mate

Boden's Mate is characterized by a king being mated by two bishops along two criss-crossing diagonals.  The most famous example of Boden's Mate is the so-called Peruvian Immortal Game, Canal vs. Dubyna, Budapest 1934.

In the following game, Samuel Boden, for whom the mate is named, exhibited an early example of it in a friendly game Schulder–Boden, London 1853.  Source: Wikipedia.

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, d6
3. c3, f5
4. Bc4, Nf6
5. d4, fxe4
6. dxe5, exf3
7. exf6, Qxf6
8. gxf3, Nc6
9. f4, Bd7
10. Be3, 0-0-0
11. Nd2, Re8
12. Qf3, Bf5
13. 0-0-0? ....

Bd5 is better.

13. .... d5!
14. Bxd5? ....

This move allows a forced mate. Better is 14. Rde1, losing a piece.

14. .... Qxc3+
15. bxc3, Ba3 mate.

Tarrasch Trap

The Tarrasch Trap was named after Siegbert Tarrasch, who was one of the strongest chess players in the late 19th century and early 20th century.  Tarrasch actually used his traps against chess masters in tournament games.

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bb5, a6
4. Ba4, Nf6
5. 0-0, Nxe4

The Open Variation of the Ruy Lopez.

6. d4, b5
7. Bb3, d5
8. dxe5, Be6
9. c3, Be7
10. Re1, 0-0
11. Nd4, Qd7?

12. Nxe6!! ....

If 12....fxe6 or Qxe6, then 13. Rxe4 and White wins a piece.

Dresden Trap

The Dresden Trap is also a form of Tarrasch Trap, and occurs in the Steinitz Variation of the Ruy Lopez.  Source:  Wikipedia.

The following game actually happened between Siegbert Tarrasch versus Georg Marco in 1892.

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bb5, d6

This is the Steinitz Variation of the Ruy Lopez Opening.

4. d4, Bd7
5. Nc3, Nf6
6. 0-0, Be7
7. Re1 ....

White lays a trap. Castling seems a natural move for Black but it loses a pawn.

7. .... 0-0

A better move for Black is 7. .... exd4.

8. Bxc6, Bxc6
9. dxe5, dxe5
10. Qxd8, Rxd8
11. Nxe5, Bxe4?!
12. Nxe4, Nxe4
13. Nd3 ....

Not 13. Rxe4 because of 13.....Rd1+ with a mating threat.

13. .... f5

The Black Knight cannot move because of a pin on e7 Bishop.

14. f3, Bc5+?!

Better is 14...Bh4, 15. g3 Nxg3, 16. hxg3 Bxg3 where Black gets two pawns for the Knight.

15. Nxc5, Nxc5
16. Bg5, Rd5
17. Be7, Re8
18. c4! ...

White wins at least the exchange, so Marco resigned.

Noah's Ark Trap

The Noah's Ark Trap is a chess opening trap in the Ruy Lopez (Spanish Game).  The name is actually used to describe a family of traps in the Ruy Lopez in which a white bishop is trapped on the b3-square by black pawns.  Source:  Wikipedia.

The following game actually happened between Endre Steiner and Jose Raul Capablanca in 1929.

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bb5, a6
4. Ba4, d6
5. d4 ....

White has a choice of better moves:  c3, Bxc6+, or 0-0.

5. .... b5
6. Bb3, Nxd4
7. Nxd4, exd4
8. Qxd4?? ....

A better move for White is 8. Bd5, or try a gambit with 8. c3.

8. .... c5
9. Qd5, Be6
10. Qc6+, Bd7
11. Qd5, c4

(See diagram).

The Bishop is trapped and White resigned after 32 moves.

The Mortimer Trap

The trap, named after James Mortimer, begins with Black playing the Berlin Defense to the Ruy Lopez.  It is a true trap in the sense that Black deliberately plays an inferior move hoping to trick White into making a mistake.  (Source:  Wikipedia)

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bb5, Nf6
4. d3, Ne7

Black intends to reroute the Knight to g6.  It is an inferior move, but it lays a trap.

5. Nxe5?, c6!

Black threatens 6....Qa5 winning at least 1 piece.

6. Nc4 ....

This is White's best reply, as it covers a5, and threatens 7. Nd6 mate.

6. .... d6!
7. Ba4, b5

Black forks the White Bishop and Knight, winning a piece for two pawns.

Rubinstein Trap

The Rubinstein Trap is a chess opening trap in the Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense.  The trap takes its name from Akiba Rubinstein, who had the misfortune of falling into it twice.

1. d4, d5
2. Nf3, Nf6
3. c4, e6
4. Bg5, Nbd7
5. e3, Be7
6. Nc3, 0-0
7. Rc1, Re8
8. Qc2, a6
9. cxd5, exd5
10. Bd3, c6
11. 0-0, Ne4
12. Bf4, f5?
13. Nxd5 .....

White wins a pawn since 13...cxd5?? loses to 14.Bc7  trapping Black's queen.

Wurzburger Trap

The Wurzburger Trap is a chess opening trap in the Vienna Gambit.  It was named after German banker Max Wurzburger.  (Source:  Wikipedia)

1. e4, e5
2. Nc3, Nf6
3. f4, d5
4. fxe5, Nxf4
5. d3, Qh4+?  (See diagram.)

Black falls into the trap.

 6. g3, Nxg3
7. Nf3, Qh5
8. Nxd5, Bg4

If 8....Nxh1, 9. Nxc7+ Kd8, 10. Nxa8 leads to advantage for White.

9. Nf4, Bxf3
10. Nxh5, Bxd1
11. hxg3, Bxc2?
12. b3 .....

The Bishop on c2 is trapped, and White can move his King to d2 to capture it.

Siberian Trap

The Siberian Trap is derived from the Smith-Morra Gambit of the Sicilian Defense.  In this opening trap, White may lose a Queen.

1. e4, c5
2. d4, cxd4
3. c3, dxc3
4. Nxc3, Nc6
5. Nf3, e6
6. Bc4, Qc7
7. 0-0, Nf6
8. Qe2 ....

White prepares for e5.

8. .... Ng4!
9. h3?? .... (See diagram.)

9. .... Nd4!
10. Nxd4, Qh2 mate.

Magnus Smith Trap

The Magnus Smith Trap is derived from a variation of the Sicilian Defense, named after three-time Canadian chess champion Magnus Smith (1869-1934).

1. e4, c5
2. Nf3, d6
3. d4, cxd4
4. Nxd4, Nf6
5. Nc3, Nc6
6. Bc4, g6?!
7. Nxc6, bxc6
8. e5! ...... (See diagram.)

 
8. .... dxe5
9. Bxf7+ ....

White wins the Black Queen after 9....Kxf7.

Elephant Trap

The Elephant Trap comes from a greedy attempt by White to win a pawn in a variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined.

1. d4, d5
2. c4, e6
3. Nc3, Nf6
4. Bg5, Nbd7
5. cxd5, exd5
6. Nxd5?? ....

White thinks that the Black Knight is pinned and cannot be moved.

6. .... Nxd5!
7. Bxd8, Bb4+

Black comes with a piece ahead.

Marshall Trap

This trap was named after Frank Marshall, considered one of the world's strongest players in the 20th century.

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nf6
3. Nxe5, d6
4. Nf3, Nxe4
5. d4, d5
6. Bd3, Bd6
7. 0-0, 0-0
8. c4, Bg4
9. cxd5, f5
10. Re1? ....
 
A bad move.  White should play Nc3 instead.

10. .... Bxh2+
11. Kxh2, Nxf2
12. Qe2, Nxd3
13. Qxd3, Bxf3
14. Qxf3, Qh4+

White captures the e1-Rook and has winning material advantage.

Monticelli Trap

In chess, the Monticelli Trap is a combination in the Bogo-Indian Defense, named after the Italian champion Mario Monticelli.

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, e6
3. Nf3, Bb4+

The Bogo-Indian Defense.

4. Bd2, Bxd2+
5. Qxd2, b6
6. g3, Bb7
7. Bg2, 0-0
8. Nc3, Ne4
9, Qc2, Nxc3
10. Ng5!  (See diagram.)

White threatens mate at h7 and also threatens capture of Bishop and Rook at b7 and a8.

Halosar Trap

The Halosar Trap is derived from the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit. 

1. d4, d5
2. e4?! ....

The start of the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit. 

2. .... dxe4
3. Nc3, Nf6
4. f3, exf3
5. Qxf3?! ....

The Ryder Gambit.  White allows the d-pawn to be captured and lays a trap.

5. .... Qxd4
6. Be3, Qb4
7. 0-0-0, Bg4

8. Nb5 ....

White threatens mate by Nxc7. 

8. .... Na6
9. Qxb7, Qe4
10. Qxa6, Qxe3+

Worse is 10....Bxd1, 11. Kxd1 Rd8+, 12. Bd2 and White is winning.  For example 12....Ng4 13. Nxc7+ Kd7, 14. Qxa7 ....


11. Kb1, Qc5

12. Nf3 ....

White threatens Qb7 and wins either the a-pawn or the c-pawn by force.