Traps in Sound Position

8/7/2019 Traps in Sound Position

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TRAPS in SOUND POSITION

<English opening>1.c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 (i usually play e3 or g3) b6 4. e4 Bb7 5. e5 Ne4 6. Bd3 Nxc3

7. dxc3 so far all moves made have been direct and obvious

7. ... d6

8. Ng5!now,

8. ...dxe5? 9. Nxf7+! Kxf7 10. Bg6+! Ke7? 11.Bg5 mate

a more entertaining continuation is8. ...Bxg2? 9.Rg1 Bb7 10. Bxh7 Be7(...dxe5?? 11. Qxd8+ Kxd8 12. Nf7+) 11. Nxf7+!

Kxf7 12. Qh5+ Kf8 13. Rxg7+! Kxg7 14. Qg6+ Kf8 15.Bh6 mate

<another English opening>

1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 b6 3.Nc3 Bb7 4.e4 Bb4 (Nf6 is usual) 5.Qc2 Bxc3 6.Qxc3! Bxe4

at this point most players greedily go Qxg7 Qf6 when material and advantage lie equal

but 7. d3!! Bxf3 8.Qxg7 Qf6 9.Bh6!now,

9. ... Bb7 Qf8 mate. This has actually happened in tournament play

9. ... Qxg7 10.Bxg7 Bb7 11.Bxh8 is an exchage up, and the h8 bishop can be saved byRg1, g4, and g5.

Positional Blunder

<yet another english opening>

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Nf3 g6

all has developed smoothly. This position can and has been reached in many ways5.d4 exd4 6.Nxd4 Ne5

Now white lures black to take his c4 pawn

7.Bf4!If black accepts with the natural

7. ... Nxc4? 8.Nb5 d6 9.Qa4! c6 10. Qxc4 cxb5 11.Nxb5 Be6 12.Nc7+ Ke7 13.Nxe6 fxe6

14.Qb4 black is positionally losingcorrect for black is to ignore c4 and develop

7. ... Qe7 and now black has a trick of his own

8. Nb5? Nf3 mate

Greek gift

A bishop sacrifice on h7 is a greek gift<Marshall Defense>

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d5 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.e4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Bb4 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.0-0 0-0

everything seems peaceful9. e5 Nd5 10.Bxh7+! The greek gift

10. ... Kxh7 11. Ng5+



11. ... Kg8 Qh5 is obvious

I examine the main line using Fritz

11. ... Kg6 12.Qd3+ f5 13.Qg3 Qd7 14.Nxe6+ Kf7 another sacrifice 15.Qxg7+! Kxe616.Qg6+ Nf6 (Ke7 17.Bg5+) 17.d5+! Kxe5? then Qg3+, Qe3+ and b3 mate.

black is mincemeat in all lines.

Greek gift part 2

Black escapes somewhat ok if he defends precisely<French defense: Winawer>

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3 6.bxc3 Nc6 7.f4 Nd7 8.Nf3 0-0 9.Bd3 c4?

our friend the greek gift again

10.Bxh7+! Kxh7 11.Ng5+ Kg6 12.Qg4 f5 13.Qg3 black is on a knife edge. most blacks fall for

13. ... Qd7? or Qa5? or Qb6? 14.Qh3! wins

the only way out is

13. ... Qe8! 14.Nxe6+ Kf7 15.Nc7 Qd8 16.Nxa8 Be6 Black will have two pieces for arook and two pawns, and white a lovely fortress.

You can analyse the greek gift variation also with9. ... Qc7

9. ... Qb6

9. ... b6 etc

I think they should differ a little.

Greek gift part 3

Gifted people are fond of giving gifts. This gift by black is known, and it takes place in

the petroff defence, of all openings.

<Petroff defense>1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4

If ur playing against computers or like draws, this opening is for you.

5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Bd6 7.0-0 (I play 7.h3!) Bg4(7.0-0 calls for simplicity)

8.c4 0-0 9.cxd5?!(rite is Nc3) f5 10.Re1?

Black gifts the gift.

10.Bxh2+! Kxh2 11.Nxf2 Qd2 12.Nxd3 Qxd3 13.Bxf3 Qxf3 14.Qh4+ wins an exchange.

Useful.....

A simple and fun trap.

<Scandinavian Defense>

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 2.Nc3 Qa5(i usuallly play the cocky variation Qe6+!? Be2 Qg6which confuses prepared opponents) 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Be2 c6 7.Ne5 Bxe2 8.Qxe2

Nbd7 9.0-0 e6 10.Re1 Be7? (0-0-0 is better)

Black has developed in textbook fashion and gets set for a positional struggle.



However...

11.Nxf7! 0-0 12.Ng5 Rae8 13.Qxe6+ Kh8 14.Nf7+ 1-0

Opening full of traps: Noah's ark

The Noah variation of Ruy Lopez is famed for a trap by black. Actually interesting trickscan be used by white too, as shown below.

<Ruy Lopez>

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.d4!? (you mite try c3 leading to archangelsk)5. ... b5 6.Bb3 exd4 7.Nxd4 Nxd4

the famous trap is

8.Qxd4?? c5 9.Qd5 Be6 10.Qc6+ Bd7 11.Qd5 c4 winning a peice.

But instead,8.c3! a brilliant gambit.

Now

8. ... dxc3? leads to a draw 9.Qd5 Be6 10.Qc6+ and either Bd7 Qd5 perpetual or Ke7

Nxc3 which prevents castling and blocks the dark squared bishop.instead,

8. ... d3 9.a4 Bd7(correct is Bb7 Qxd3) 10.axb5 axb5?? 11.Qh5! g6 12.Qd5! Be613.Qxa8 1-0 I like this trap even better than the first.

Trapped Queen

Your next philidorian opponent will be shocked..

<Philidor Defense>

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7 4.Bc4 c6 5.Ng5 Nh6 6.a4! Be7?Every one of black's moves were good and purposeful and logical. I must conclude he

was only very unfortunate:

7.Bxf7+!! Nxf7 8.Ne6 - the queen is the target.8.... Qa5+? 9.Bd2 Qb6 10.a5 Qb5 11.Nc7+

8.... Qb6? 9.a5 Qb4+ 10.c3 Qc4 11.Nc7+ Kd8 12.Na3

False Hope

<French Defence>

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.c3 cxd4 5.cxd4 dxe4 6.Nxe4 Bd7 7.Nf3 Bc6 8.Bd3 Nf69.Nxf6+

The position looks sterile, well known in theory and gxf6 leads to draw. But what if black

chooses9. ... Qxf6 10.Bg5! It looks at first sight that the BQ is trapped and black is doomed. But

10. ...Bxf3! Observe, now the bishop's protection is gone and will be taken. So you

conclude that white is doomed.But there is yet another twist:

11.Qc1! Bb4+ 12.Kf1 Qxd4 13.Qc8+ Qd8 14.Qxd8 mate.



Mate or Queen?

One more reason for you to play the interesting cozio defense.

<Ruy Lopez>1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nge7 This, for those who dont know, is the cozio defence.

4.Nc3 Ng6 5.d4 exd4 6.Nxd4 Bc5 7.Be3 Bxd4 8.Bxd4 Qg5. A fine attacking move and it

also sets a trap.9.0-0?? Nxd4 10.Qxd4 Nh4! 1-0

see the double threat Qxg2 mate and Nf3+ winning the queen.

correct for white is 9.g3 or even Kf1

Trap, not Fight

I had never heard of traps in the Nimzo in my early years. But then I came across this.<Nimzo-Indian Defense>

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bg5!(I prefer 4.e3) h6 5.Bh4 Qe7

Good queen activation

6.Nf3 d6 7.Qa4+ Nc6! One very beautiful, subtle and long trap.8.d5? exd5 9.cxd5 Qe4!

now,10.dxc6?? Bxc3+ and Qxa4

only correct reply for white is

10.Nd2! Qxh4 11.dxc6 0-0!! foreseeing many things 12.a3

Did black just lose a piece?12. ... Ng4! 13.g3 Qf6

the best and unlikely reply is

14.Nde4 Bxc3+ 15.bxc3 Qe5 16.Rd1 bxc6 17.Qxc6 Rb8! bags a huge black advantageand is probably enough to win eventually.

But your moderately intelligent opponent will fall for

14.axb4? Qxf2+ 15.Kd1 b5!!(not 15. ... Ne3+ 16.Kc1 Qe1+ Qd1) This surprising move removes either one of the

protectors of d1.

16.Qb3 Be6 17. Qa3 Ne3+ 18.Kc1 Qe1+ 19.Nd1 Qxd1 mateA long combination, and its root was white's move 8.

Never take it with a Knight Part 1

<Ruy Lopez>

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d4 b5 6.Bb3

so what happens?6. ... Nxd4? 7.Bxf7+! Kxf7

You can work out the rest yourself, but here it is. 8.Nxe5 Ke6 9.Qxd4 c5 10.Qc3 Nxe4

11.Qe3 Kxe5? 12.Nc3 d5 13.Nxe4 Kxe4? 14.Qf4+and

14. ... Ke6? Qxe4+

14. ... Kd5? Qd1+ wins the queen.



Never Take it with a Knight Part 2

<Ruy Lopez>1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 This position has

been reached millions of times before.

8.d4 Nxd4? 9.Bxf7+! Rxf7 10.Nxe5here,

10. ... Ne6? 11.Nxf7 Kxf7 12.e5 Ne8 13.Qf3+

10. ... Nc6? 11.Nxf7 Kxf7 12.e5 Ne8 13.Qd5+ Kf8 14.Re3! and black loses another piece.

Confusion

<Guioco:Max Lange>

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4 This is called the

max lange variation

8.Re1+ Be6 9.Ng5! Qd5!(Qxf6?? or gxf6??, then 10.Nxe6 fxe6 11.Qh5+ and Qxc5)

10.Nc3! Qf5! 11.Nce4 Bf8? (0-0-0)12.Nxf7!! This is called disaster in the max lange variation.

12. ... Bxf7? Nd6+

12. ... Kxf7 13.Ng5+ Kg8 14.g4! Qxf6(Qxg4+? Qxg4 Bxg4 f7 mate) 15.Rxe6 Qd8

16.Qf3 Qd7 and to crown your glory: 17.Re7!! Qxe7 18.Qd5+ 1-0I always say the max lange is dangerous. I advise you never to use it before studying it

thoroughly.

More Ruy Lopez

I was looking through games of R.J.Fischer when I found this amusing line, though Imnot sure if Mr Fischer invented it himself. You may call it a 'trap' if you wish.

<Ruy Lopez>

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.0-0 Bg4 6.h3 Bh5 7.c3 Qf6 8.g4 Bg6After these routine moves, 9.d4!! Bxe4 10.Nbd2

Here is my analysis:

10.... Bd3 11.Bxc6(I don't like 11.dxe5[Fritz]) bxc6 12.Re1 Be7 13.dxe5 bags a huge

advantage with the pawn.10.... Bxf3 11.Nxf3 Be7(11.... 0-0-0?? Bg5) 12.d5 b5 13.Bc2 e4! 14.Bxe4 Ne5 Nxe5

white has regained material with interest.

Fischer's russian opponent chose 10.... Bg6? 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Nxe5! andlost in 9 more moves. (pointe 15.... Qxe5 Re1)

Yet more Ruy Lopez

Its yet another small trap in the innocent-looking Ruy Lopez.

<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.

A saga: Ruy Lopez

This 'trap' is a full-fledged dogfight.

<Ruy Lopez>

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 Bd7 6.Bxc6 Bxc6 Black does not wish to double pawns.

7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Bg5 Be7 9.0-0 0-0 This position is known from theory.

10.h4 h6 11.Nd5! A bishop sacrifice

11.... hxg5 12.Nxd7 Qxd7 13.hxg5 Nxe4 14.Rh5Lets begin analysis. Alekhine has already given us

14.... Qe6?? 15.Rdh1 f5 16.Ne5!! dxe5 17.g6!! Qxg6 18.Qc4+ and Rh8 matethe correct reply is 14.... f6 15.g6 Qe8!

if 16.Qc4+? d5 17.Rdxd5? Qxg6 18.Rd7+ Rf7 19.Rxf7? Qxh5 and black wriggles out

with an extra piece.

the correct move is 16.Nh4!(now Qc4+ is a serious threat) Rd8 17.Re1! 1-0

Has white given up the attack and changed target?

17.... Qd7? 18.Rh1 loses.

17.... Qe6? 18.Nf5 is lost17.... d5? 18.Qd1! wins (threat Rh8+! Kxh8 Qh5+ and Qh7 mate)

17.... f5? is lost, and fritz amused me with the line 18.Rh1! Nf6 19.Nxf5! Nxh5

20.Qxg7+!! Nxg7 21.Nh6+ Kh8 22.Nf7+ Kg8 23.Rh8 mate.Therefore I conclude that the bishop sacrifice is not only imaginative but highly accurate,

unfoilable, and comes under the realm of 'traps'.

Analysis: The Cochrane Gambit

<Petroff: Cochrane gambit>

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7 Kxf7

Some psychology before I begin - 1. If a person wants to play the petroff, then he wants a

safe game where he could equalize, play quietly and wait for his 'chance'.The cochrane

frightens such witless people into submission. 2.In modern times players have grownarrogant enough to feel piece superiority equals advantage, but playing against that belief

will dampen their will power and courage.

White has sacrificed a knight for two pawns, hampering enemy castling,getting centrecontrol and development. He proceeds with 5.d4 where 5.... Nxd4 loses to Qh5+. Blacks

who like active play may activate the f8 Bishop with

5.... d5!? 6.e5 Ne4 7.Qf3+ Kg8 8.Bd3 pawn avalanches can result from this position and

it will not do to yeild any more pawns to white, so I suggest the more appropriate



5.... Qe7 6.Nc3 c6!(where Nxe4 loses again)

7.Bd3 gives black time to breathe Bg4! 8.f3 Be6 9.0-0 g6 (or 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 g5!) may

reorganise the kingside in time, so my favour goes to:

7.Bg5!

as black, do not play

7.... h6? 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 Bc4+ which helps white to develop briskly.Foolish is 7.... Bg4? 8.Bxf6 Bxd1 9.Bxe7 which regains the lost peice.

Correct continuation 7.... Nbd7 But it blocks both bishops, lets white castle queenside

and launch his assault. Unless your opponent is a brilliant defender I see much reason toexpect a white victory.

NEVER play d5!? as black in the early stages.

Always aim to castle queenside as white and reap the benefits of pawn avalanches later inthe kingside.

It is best not to place your queen, as white, in f3 because an f4 pawn advance is great fun.

The black kingside bishop must be deployed via g7 and rook via f8 as soon as possible.

DO NOT play cochrane with computers or people who play like computers.

Greed and Position

<Sicilian: Sozin Variation>

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 betaken?

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 unmovedand 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.

Bugspray

<Caro-Kann Defense: Steinitz Variation>

If black eludes temptation he may come out alright.1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Ne7 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 isfor 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.

Light

A variation-free trap, and another caro-kann.

<Caro-Kann defense>

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 Nxe4Would the reader like to sympathise? He should.

9.Qd8+!! Kxd8 10.Bg5+ Kc7 Bd8 mate.

Light Part 2

Here's another small, subtle, chic trap.<French Defense>

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.

Speculation

<French Defense>

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4! A nice pawn offer

6.... Bxg5 7.hxg5 Qxg5 8.Nh3It becomes apparent how this sacrifice benefits white. Black has lost many tempi, his

queen is offside, and his queenside undeveloped.

8.... Qg6 9.Nf4 Qg5 10.Rh5! is a trap Qxf4? 9.g3 takes the queen.

8.... Qe7 is the main variation. 9.Nf4!9.... 0-0? 10.Bd3 g6(or h6) 11.Qg4 leads to a strong attack.

9.... Nc6? 10.Qg4!(Nb5? Nb6 cosolidates black)

and now,10.... Kf8? 0-0-0 or 10.... 0-0? 0-0-0 actually assist white's plans

The correct continuation is the obvious

10.... Nxd4 11.0-0-0!(Qxg7 Qf8) Nf5 which leads to complicated fuzziness, beginningwith 12.Nfxd5!

The trap is

10.... f5? 11.Qh5+ Qf7 12.Nxe6! g6 13.Nxc7+ Kd8 14.Qh2! with Kxc7? 15.e6+



Light Part 3

Another simple trap.<Sicilian: Andreaschek gambit>

1.e4 c5 2.d4 exd4 3.Nf3 e5! 4.c3! gambits a pawn.(4.Nxe5?? Qa5+)

4.... dxc3 5.Nxc3 d6 6.Bc4Only 6 moves have been played but the position is very dangerous,

because of the weakness f7.

6.... Nf6? 7.Ng5 Be6 8.Nxe66.... Be7? 7.Qb3

6.... h6? 7.Bxf7+! Kxf7 8.Nxe5+! Ke8 8.Qh5+ or 8.... Ke7 9.Ng6+ or 8.... Kf6 9.Qd4

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?

6.... Nc6! 7.Ng5 Nh6 8.Qd5 Qf6 9.0-0 White has an attack, but the game is yet

undecided.

Knight for King

Another line based on the weakness of f7.

<Ruy Lopez: Cozio Defense>

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bg5 Nge7 4.c3 d6 5.d4 Bd7 6.0-0 Ng6 nad now

7.Ng5! And now,7.... h6? 8.Nxf7!! Kxf7 9.Bc4+

9.... Ke7? 10.Qh5!

10.... Qd8? 11.Qg5+! hxg5 12.Bxg5 mate10.... Bd8? 11.Bg5+! hxg5 12.Qxg5+ Kd7 13.Qf5+ Ke7 14.Qe6 mate

the only option is the unlikely-looking 9.... Ke8 10.Qh5 Qf6 11.f4! exd4 12.f5 and soon

the knight is returned with an exciting game.

Two knights for king

<Slav defense>

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 this is called the krause attack.

c5!? this aggressive move paves the way for 7.e4!

7.... cxd4? 8.exf5 dxc3 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.Nf77.... Qxd4? 8.Qxd4 cxd4 9.Nb5

7.... Bxe4 8.Nxe4 Nxe4 9.Bxc4 keeps white initiative

7.... Nxe4 8.Qf3!

8.... Nxc3? 9.Qxf5 f6 10.Bxc4!

8.... Qxd4? 9.Qxf5 Nd6 10.Qf4 and on counting the pieces you are shocked.

8.... e6 9.Nxf7! Kxf7 10.Nxe4the star variation is

8.... cxd4 9.Qxf5 Nd6 10.Bxc4! e6 11.Bb5+ Ke7 12.Ng6+!! hxg6 13.Nd5+! exd5

14.Qe5 mate.



Fantasy

<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! Bc4+ 7.c3! dxc3 8.Bxf7+

the correct continuation is 8.... Ke7! 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.Bg5+ Nf6 11.bxc3Coming 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.

Light Part 4

<Sicilian Zagreb>

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.exg7 Bxg7 13.Nf5! Bf8 14.Rxe6+! fxe6 15.Qh5 mate

Outsmarted

<French: Winawer>

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Bxc3 5.bxc3 Qc7 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.h4 0-0 8.Bd3 is routine preparing a greek gift. But suppose black notices a trick of his own, involving the

weakness c3...

8.... cxd4 9.cxd4 Nxd4! 10.Nxd4 Qc3+ Black has calculated11.Bd2? Qxd4 and 11.Kf1? Qxa1 A disaster seems imminent for white.

however,

12.Qd2! Qxa1 (12.... Qxd4?? 13.Bb5+) 13.c3! and the next move is Nb3 trapping thequeen.

Analysis: Scotch Gotschall

<Scotch Game>

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5! (I like this move and Qh4, but not the silly

Nf6) 5.Be3 Qf6! 6.c3 Nge7 7.Qd2 (to lend support to e3) d5! 8.Nb5! Bxe3 9.Qxe3 0-0!10.Nxe7 Rb8 11.Nxd5 Nxd5 12.exd5 12.... Nb4! This much is the Gotschall variation.

Black sacrifices two pawns and a knight to create somewhat nebulous possibilities. I

would ask the reader to use it against players upto 2100 in standard games, and allmanners of people in blitz.

13.cxb4 There is one blunder and one correct move for black.

The blunder is13.... Qxb2? 14.Qc3 Re8+ 15.Kd1 Qxf2 16.Qd2 Bg4+ 17.Kc2 Rac8+ 18.Kb2 Qf6+

19.Nc3 and white is fine, and a knight up.

The correct move is

13..... Bg4! Players frequently make blunders, viz



14.Nc3? Rfe8 15.Ne4? Qxb2 16.Rc1? Rxe4!

14.Be2?? Bxe2

14.Qc3? Rfe8+ 15.Kd2 Qxf2+correct move is

14.Bb5! Qxb2 15.Qc3 Rfe8+! 16.Kf1(Bxe8? Qe2+ and soon mate) Be2+! 17.Kg1 Bxb5.

Black has regained most of the lost material, and attacks, while white's rooks and knightare still undeveloped and will remain so.

Pseudo Pin

<King's Gambit Declined>

1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.Bc4 Nf6 6.d3 Bg4

7.Na4! (to rid the bishop and castle) exf4 8.Nxc5 dxc5now blacks hold on d4 is strong. 8.Bxf4 Nh5 9.Be3 The traps are:

9.... Nd4? 10.Bxf7+ Kxf7 11.Ne5+ wins a pawn.

9.... Ne5? 10.Nxe5! Bxd1 11.Bxf7+ Ke7 12.Bxc5+ Kf6 13.0-0+ Kxe5 14.Rf5 mate

The correct replies are 9.... Qe7 or 9.... b6 Nevertheles, I still think declining KG is best for black.

Do you notice that f7 is a recurring theme in these posts? I will try to find new ones.

Steinitz

<Guioco Piano>

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 acentury ago.

The reader will not believe it if they were told how many people fall for it even today.

Botvinnik

<Caro-Kann: Panov-Botvinnik variation>1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 My favorite variation of the caro-kann. 5.Nc3 Nc6

6.Bg5 Qb6 and here we go;

7.cxd5 Qxb2? I wager that 9 out of 10 unwary blacks would play this - even unto higher

ratings.



8.Rc1 Nb4

note that 8.... Nd8 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Bb5+ is a lesser disaster, but disaster nonetheless.

9.Na4 Qxa2also note that 8.... Qa3 9.Rc3 Qxa2 10.Bc4 traps the queen anyway.

10.Bc4 Qa3 11.Rc3 Bg4 12.Nf3 Bxf3 13.gxf3 has cornered the queen. 13.... Nc2+

14.Qxc2 Qa1+ 15.Bc1 but white is a piece up and invariably won.If you prepare traps like these you can win GM games in 12 moves, as Botvinnik did.

Greek Gift Gratefully Accepted

<French Defense: Winawer>

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3 6.bxc3 Nc6 7.Nf3 Nge7 8.Bd3 0-0 9.h4

looks familiar? Qa5!

White eagerly observes that his strong opponent, black, has no clue whatsoever as to

what is about to happen: so he bangs out 10.Bxh7+! when theory suggests otherwise.

He analyses 10.... Kxh7 11.Ng5+

11.... Kg6 12.Qd3+ Nf5 13.g4 when black falls apart11.... Kg8 Qh5 leads to mate or atleast perpetual check.

Thus he expects 10.Kh8 Bd3 (11.Qxc3+?? Bd2) when white is set to demolish blacksking.

But his opponent plays 10.... Kxh7

White is ready to play as prepared. On thinking twice, though, White eventually notices

the deep trap:11.... Kg8! 12.Qh5? Qxc3+ 13.Kd1 (or else Qxc2! covers h7 and thus wins) Qxd4+!

14.Bd2!! (or else Ke1 Qxe5+ and Qf5) Qxa1+ 15.Bd1 Qd4+ 16.Bd2 It looks like a draw

but 16.... Qe4!! 17.Nxe4 dxe4 black has two pieces, a rook and a pawn for queen, morethan enough compensation. White's attack has evaporated, and being the more

experienced player black will obviously win.

Now perhaps white begins to regret his gift. After long thought,

11.Bd2!

Notice 11.Qd3+?? Nf5 12.g4 c4 and the knight is unpinned.

It is black's turn to think. 11.... Nf5 12.g4 Nh6 13.Bxh6 leads to an unclear positionwhere one of the few clear things is white's attack.

11.... Qa4!!

White resigns.

If he hadnt he would have been further disheartened by12.Rc1 Rh8 13.Ng5+ Kg8 14.Qf3 Nd8

It follows that sometimes, greek gifts are inaccurate saccrifices. This one is a most

tempting trap.

Wrong side

Can a player remain quiet in his opening and still win in 12 moves?

<Larsen's Opening>

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!! resigns12.... gxh5? 13.Rg3+ Kh8 14.Nxf7 mate

12.... Nf6? 13.Qh6 Rd8 Nd7!

Black was better developed, but on the wrong side, unfortunately.

Tolush

<Kings Indian Defence: Samisch Variation>1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg6 4.e4 d6 5.f3 e5 6.Bd3

Theory has been mainly restricted to 6.d5. The reason is black's next move.

6.... Ng4!

declining the knight is not appropriate:7. Bd2? exd4 8.fxg4 dxc3 followed by Qh4+ black is a pawn up.

on accepting with 7.fxg4 exd48.Bxd4 Bxd4 and black controls the centre, white's pawns are in ruins, and the position is

filled with holes.

This trap was introduced in a GM game by the soviet master Alexander Tolush.

Tal

<Sicilian Scheveningen: Tal Variation>

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.

14.... 0-0-0? 15.Rg1 f6 16.Nd5 Qf7 17.Bh3+ Kb8 18.Bb6 and again black is succumbing.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.



Spielmann

<Goering Gambit>

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.

Security Concerns

<Ruy Lopez>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.Qxb4and 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



More Tal

<Pirc Defence>

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 protectivemeasure?

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.Rxb714.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

Weak spots

<Petroff defense>

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4! Nxe4 4.Nc3! Yet another way to liven your petroff defense.4.... Nxc3 5.dxc3 and now,

5.... Bc5? 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Qd5+ wins the bishop.

5.... d6? 6.Ng5! Be6 7.Bxe6 fxe6 8.Qf3 and a double threat.The correct response is 5.... Nc6 6.Qd5 Qe7 7.Bg5 f6 (7....Qe6 8.Qe4 f5 9.Qe2 wins)

8.Be3 And white can sit back and admire his positional advantage.

Marshall

<Marshall Defense>

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d5 If you ask me, I'd tell you I hate this opening and prefer being white, butappearances may mislead anyone at times.

3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.e4 Nf6 5.Bd3

and it looks nice for white, because of Qxd4? Bb5+. However,5.... e5! 6.dxe5 Ng4 7.Nf3 Nc6

The obvious mistake is 8.Bb5?? Qxd1 9.Kxd1 Nxf2

Not so obvious, however, is 8.Bf4? Nb4!now,

9.Be2? Qxd1 10.Bxd1 Nd3+ and Nxf4

9.Bb5+ c6 10.Qxd8 Kxd8 11.Ba4 Nd3+

9.Qa4+ Bd7 10.Qb3



(10.Qd1 Bc6 11.Be2 Qxd1 12.Bxd1 Nd3+)

10.... Be6! 11.Qa4+ c6 12.Be2 b5! 13.Qd1 Qxd1+ 14.Bxd1 Nd3+

Black loses material despite his best attempts.

MarcozyA simple trap

<Sicilian Defense>

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.f3!White avoids Nc3 because he wishes to play c4, a known arrangement called the

'Marcozy bind clamp'.

5.... Nc6 6.c4 e6 7.Nc3

So much for the setting. Black may now fall for the temptation7.... d5? 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bb5.

Black loses material.

9.... Bd7? 10.exd5 Nxd4 11.Bxd7+

9.... Qd6? 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Qxd5 and 12... Qxd5 13.Nxd5 Kd7 14.Ba4! or 12.... cxb5 13.Qxa8

Triumphant

<Sicilian Scheveningen>

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.Bb5Qb4+ 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.

Cambridge Springs

<QGD: Cambridge Springs Defence>

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, althoough black has anadvantage. But interesting still is

12.a3? Bxc3!

because 12.... Nxc3? 13.Qxb4

13.bxc3 0-0!

Npw 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.

Small Proportions

<Sicilian Defense>1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 I have beaten experts with this line as black: it

harvests adventure. 4.... Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Bd3 d5!7.e5 Nd7 8.Qg4! white wins.

8.... 0-0? 9.Bh68.... Bf8? 9.Nxe6! fxe6 10.Bg6+! hxg6 11.Qxg6+ Ke7 12.Bg5+ Nf6 13.exf6+

Small Proportions part 2

<Centre Game>

1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 Nf6 5.Bc4 Ne5 6.Bb3 Bb4+ 7.c3

This is all it takes to lose.7.... Bc5! 8.Qg3

because of

8.Qf4? or Qxc5? Nd3+8.... Bxf2+! and Kxf2? Nxe4+ or Qxf2 Nd3+ wins the queen.

Please note 8.Qd2 or 8.Qg5 invites the same fate.

Mirage

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 b6 this is the Queen's Indian Defence.

4.e4 Bb4 5.e5 Ne4 6.Qg4! Nxc3 7.bxc3 Bxc3+ 8.Kd1.



A kind of position which appears to have dozens of different possibilities, all winning for

black.

However, if 8.... Bxa1? 9.Qxg7 Rf8 10.Bg5 f6 11.exf6 Rf7 12.Qe8+ Rf8 13.f7 mate

8.... 0-0? 9.Bh6

8.... g6?? Bg5the correct move, therefore, must be

8.... Kf8 9.Rb1 Nc6

9.... d6? 10.Rb3 Ba5 11.Rg3 Rg8 (g6? 12.Bg5 Qe8 13.Qh4) 12.Bg5 Qe8 13.Bf6! wins

10.Ba3+ Kg8 It seems there were other options but

10.... Ne7? 11.Rb3

10.... d6? 11.Qf3! and a double attack

11.Rb3! Bxd4 12.Qxg7+!! Kxg7 13.Rg3+ Kh6 14.Bc1+ Kh5 15.Be2+ Kh4 16.Rh3

mate.

Blacks at the end of the game would curse the chessboard, their opponents, bad luck and

'chess theory'.

Little Mistakes

<Queens Gambit Declined>

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Qb3 c6

Anything is possible in this peaceful position.

7.e4! dxe47.... Nxe4? 8.Nxe4 dxe4 9.Ng5 Qf6 10.Bc4

8.Bc4! Qe7

8.... exf3? 9.Bxf7+ Ke7 10.Qe6 mate9.Ng5 black is about to lose more than his extra pawn.

9.... Nb6? 10.Bxf7+ Kd8 11.d5! cxd5 12.Bxd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Qxd5+ wins a

pawn or great positional advantage, as per your choice.9.... Nd5?? 10.Bxd5 cxd5 12.Nxd5 Qd8 13.Nc7+! Qxc7 14.Qxf7+ Kd8 15.Ne6 mate

Where did black go wrong?

The problems would have been avoided by 6.... Nb6

The Art of Giving Pawns

It is another, well covered and trappy gambit for the readers repertoire. I am somewhat proud of this analysis, all done in many hours over a board without my friend fritz to

help...

<Sicilian Defense>

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be2 Bb4

Bishop pins such as these are not advantageous to black; but somehow I always find them

irritating. The reader's natural preference would be towards f3, but

7.0-0! Bxc3 8.bxc3 Nxe4 9.Bf3

White has sacrificed a pawn and doubled his c-pawns to boot. In return, he has better

development and the move Ba3 which will keep the black in the centre for long periods

of time. Examining lines by turn,



9.... Nxc3 is a blunder. 10.Qd3

and now,

10.... Nd5? leads to disaster. 11.Bxd5 exd5 12.Rfe1+ Kf8 13.Nf5! d6 14.Nxg7! Ne5!

(Kxg7? 15.Qg3+ Kf8 16.Bh6 mate) 15.Nh5!! Be6 (15... Nxd3 16.Bh6+ Kg8 17.Re8+!

Qxe8 18.Nf6 mate) 16.Rxe5! dxe5 17.Ba3+ Ke8 18.Qb5+ Qd7 (Be7 Ng7 mate)19.Nf6+ wins the queen.

The other line is

10.... Na4? 11.Ba3

The threat is Nf5!

11.... d6?? 12.Nxc6

11..... Nb6? 12.Nf5! exf5 13.Rfe1+ wins

11.... d5? 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Qd4! Nb6 14.Qxg7 wins

9.... Nc5? 10.Ba3 Qa5 11.Bxc6

and now

12.... dxc6 13.Bb4 Qb6 14.Nf5! exf5 (0-0? Qd4) 15.Qd6 black cannot castle Be6 (or Qd8 Qxc5; or Nd7? Qe7 mate) 16.Bxc5 Qd8 (Rd8? Qe5) 17.Qe5 Qf6? 18.Qc7 and

white is winning beautifully.Also bad is 12... Qxa3!? 13.Nb5! Qa5 14.Qd6 wins an exchange.

The right defence on move 9 should be

9.... Nd6! 10.Ba3 Nc4 11.Bc5 N6e5 12.Nb5 d5! my analysis ends here, with thesuggestion 13.Bxd5!! exd5 14.f4

Philidor

The philidor defense is getting popular nowadays. But unfortunately for chess-trendy

players, it also packs a lot of subtle traps. The one below, for instance.<Philidor's Defense>

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Qe2 exd4 8.Nxd4

This position is very probable, because it can be attained in many ways by changing theorder in which moves have been played.

And now we come to the trap.

8.... Re8? 9.Bxf7+! Kxf7 10.Ne6!! an astonishing continuation. 10... Kxe6 11.Qc4+ d5

12.exd5

12... Nxd5? 13.Nxd5 Kf7 14.Nf4+ Kf8 15.Ne6+

12... Kf7 13.d6+ Nd5 (Kf8?? dxc7 wins the queen) 14.dxe7 Qxe7 15.Nxd5 the piece

count is equal. 15... Qe6 16.Qf4+ Kg8 17.Nxc7 wins.

Forked

<Ruy Lopez>

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Na4 f5!

This move is god's gift to players too fond of using their f-pawns, and not my favorite

move. It is risky, and accepted by theory.



5.Nc3

5.exf5 b5 is also prominent line.

5.... b5!? black forces the bishop to a better square. 6.Bb3 b4Black is after the e pawn, and walks into a systematic trap as follows.

7.Na4 fxe4? 8.Nxe5! Nxe5 9.Qh5+ Ng6 10.Bxg8 Rxg8 11.Qd5 forks the rooks

Black Beauty

<Ruy Lopez>

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 4.Nxd4 exd4

This variation of the Ruy Lopez is unpopular among chess stars but the reader can play it

as black to give the opponent a misimpression that the reader knows little opening theory.

5.Bc4 white wishes to discourage black's d5.

5... Nf6 6.e5 d5! 7.Bb3

The alternative 7.exf6 dxc4 8.Qe2+ Be6 leads to a position not unlike the max lange

variation, which is, as analysed before, complicated.

But the main line, based on black's 'safety first' move 7, is worse.7.... Bg4! 8.f3 Ne4!

The little trick is 9.fxg4 Qh4+

9.0-0 and now,

9... d3!! black has made extraordinary calculations. 10.fxg4 Bc5+ 11.Kh1 Ng3+!

12.hxg3 white cannot refuse any of the pieces being offered. 12... Qg5 13.Rf5 h5!!

At last, the queen is sacrificed too! But on acceptance,14.Rxg5 hxg4+ 15.Rh5 Rxh5 mate.

On decline,

14.gxh5! Qxf5 15.g4 Rxh5!! another sacrifice 16.gxh5 Qe4 17.Qf3 Qh4+ 18.Qh3 Qe1+

19.Kh2 Bg1+ 20.Kh1 Bf2+ 21.Kh2 Qg1mate.

Tolush (Revised)

<Kings Indian Defence: Samisch Variation>

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg6 4.e4 d6 5.f3 e5 6.Be3 0-0 7.Bd3Theory has been mainly restricted to 6.d5. The reason is black's next move.

7.... Ng4!

declining the knight is not appropriate:

8. Bd2? exd4 9.fxg4 dxc3 followed by Qh4+ black is a pawn up.on accepting with 8.fxg4 exd4

9.Bxd4 Bxd4 and black controls the centre, white's pawns are in ruins, and the position is

filled with holes.This trap was introduced in a GM game by the soviet master Alexander Tolush.

Berlin

<Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense>

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6

This is the berlin defense, a premier prophylactic system for black. A variation was



renamed 'the berlin wall' after Kramnik applied it beautifully against Kasparov in 2000.

White sharpens the position

4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4! Be7Consider the other variations 5.... exd4? 6.Re1 is theory.

5.... d5!? 6.Nxe5 ad the trap 6.... Bd7? 7.Nxf7! Kxf7 8.Qh5+ Kf6 (g6 Qxd5) 9.f3 wins.

6.Qe2 Nd6 7.Bxc6 dxc6? falls for trouble 8.dxe5 Nf5The alternative 8.... Nb5 9.Rd1 Bd7 10.a4 traps the knight.

9.Rd1 Bd7 10.e6! (g4 Nh4) fxe6 11.Ne5 Bd6 (Nd6 Qh5+ loses even faster)

12.Qh5+ g6 13.Nxg6 Ng7 14.Qh6 (Qh3? e5) Nf5 15.Qh3! wins. The h8 rook mustmove, leading to a full-scale invasion.

The King's Indian

King's Indian

<The King's Indian Defence>

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Bd3

6.Be2 completes the solid Petrosian Variation.6... Bg4! 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 Nc6 9.Be3 Nd7

It seems black has gone out of his way to be aggressive, but the moves have a good positional logic.

The correct variation is 10.d5 Nce5 11.Qe2

The trap is 10.Ne2? Nde5! 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Qg3 Nxd3+ wins.

Decision Making

<Sicilian Scheveningen>

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 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.... Bxe6The trap is 12... fxe6? 13.Rxf6! gxf6 14.Qh5+ 1-0

The continuations are:

14... Kd7? 15.Qf7+ Be7 16.Nf5! Re8 17.Rd1! wins14... Kd8? 15.Qf7 Be7 16.Nf5! Re8 17.Nxd6! Bxd6 18.Bb6+ Bc7 19.Rd1+ Bd7 20.Qxd7

mate.

Traps in Sound Position

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Transcript of Traps in Sound Position