Common White Traps

Here are some traps when you are playing White:

1. e4, c5
2. Nf3, d6
3. c3, Nf6
4. Be2 ...

White offers a pawn, and Black does not know that it is poisoned.

4. ... Nxe4
5. Qa4+

No matter how Black replies, White gains a Knight.


Here's another opening trick:

1. e4, c5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. d4, cxd4
4. Nxd4, Nf6
5. Nc3, e5
6. Ndb5, d6
7. Nd5, Nxd5
8. exd5, Ne7
9. c4, a6
10. Qa4 ...

10. ... Qd7

Black has no choice.  If 10....Bd7 then 11. Nxd6 mate.

11. Nxd6+, Kd8
12. Nxf7+ ...

White gains material advantage.

Common Black Traps

We are going to orient our chessboard on the Black's side.  Here are some common traps when you are playing Black:

1. e4, c5
2. Nf3, e6
3. d4, cxd4
4. Nxd4, Nf6
5. e5 ...

White succumbs to Black's trap.

5. ... Qa5+ !
6. Nc3 or Bd2, Qxa5+

Black wins a pawn.


Here's another one:

1. 1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bc4, Nf6
4. Ng5, d5
5. exd5, Nd5
6. d6 ...

White attacks the f7 pawn.

6. ... Qxd6
7. Nxf7 ...

7. ...  Qc6!

White now attacks the Bishop and the g2 pawn.

8. Nxh8, Qxg2
9. Rf1, Qe4+
10. Be2 Nf3 mate.

What happens if the Bishop takes the f7 pawn at move 7?

7. Bxf7+ Ke7
8. Bb3 ...

If 8. Bc4 then Black replies with Qc6 attacking the Bishop and the b7 pawn.

8. ... Nxb3
9. axb3, h6
10. Nf3, e4
11. Ng1 ...

After this position, Black is relatively more mobile than White.