Chess opening traps to avoid

Chess opening traps to avoid
By Susan Polgar

Normally you can be safe by following the general opening principles; however there are famous opening traps good to know about.

Game 1: “Petroff defense”

From the starting position: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3

White attacks the e5 Pawn. Black now could defend it with 2…Nc6 or 2…d6 but decided to counter attack with 2…Nf6, which is not a mistake yet. White captured the Pawn 3.Nxe5.

Now Black should play 3…d6, chasing back White’s Knight first before capturing White’s Pawn on e4.

However, let’s see what is wrong with 3…Nxe4?

White will answer with 4.Qe2 attacking Black’s Knight on e4.

Now Black is in trouble. If the Knight moves away from e4, for example 4…Nf6, then White has a discovered check to win Black’s Queen with 5.Nc6+.

Let’s go back a little to the position after White’s fourth move. A better defense is (instead of 4…Nf6) 4…d5 protecting the Knight. Then White attacks the Knight again, (with the Pawn, this time) with 5.d3.

Here the same idea is renewed: if the Black Knight leaves the e4 square then 6.Nc6+ wins the Black Queen. The best Black can do is play 5…Qe7 and lose only a Pawn after 6.dxe4 Qxe5 7.exd5. Here Black cannot capture the d5 Pawn because the Black Queen is pinned on the e file.

White is also ends up a Pawn ahead if in the above diagram position, Black tries to counter attack with 4…Qe7. Then, White captures the Black Knight with 5.Qxe4 and after 5…d6 plays 6.d4 dxe5 7.dxe5.

Here is an opening trap you should avoid as White:

Game 2: Queen’s Pawn opening

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5

In this position, White could capture the Pawn on c5 with 3.dxc5. However, Black’s plan is to check with

3…Qa5+ and win the Pawn back.

3.Bf4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 This is already a mistake. Recapturing with the Queen (4.Qxd4) was better.

Now, Black has an unexpected combination to win material. First, Black sacrifices a Pawn with 4…e5.

This is a fork. If either piece (Bishop or Knight) just moves away, the other would be captured. But, what happens if White just takes the Pawn with 5.Bxe5?

Then comes a second fork: 5…Qa5+

Now, White is in check and after White blocks the check, Black can capture the Bishop on e5 with

6…Qxe5 and win a Bishop for only a Pawn.

Game 3: French defense

1.e4 e6 These are the starting moves of the French defense.

2.d4 d5 Both sides are occupying the center so far. Now the White’s Pawn on e4 is under attack. White can protect it in various ways such as 3.Nc3 or 3.Nd2 or simply move it away from the danger.

3.e5 c5 Black is trying to put pressure on White’s d4 Pawn starting with this move.

4.c3 White protects the d4 Pawn.

4…Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 Now Black is pressuring the d4 Pawn with the Pawn on c5, Knight on c6 and from behind with the Queen on b6. White is also protecting it three times. So for now, White is safe.

6.Bd3 Did White just make a mistake? Let’s see…now the White’s Queen on d1 is no longer protecting the d4 Pawn.

6…cxd4 7.cxd4 Nxd4 8.Nxd4 Qxd4 Black has just won a Pawn right? Right, but it only brings very temporary.

9.Bb5+ and with this discovery, White wins Black’s Queen.