Opening traps — learn to execute and defend.
Scholar's Mate
Quick attack on f7 with queen and bishop — the most famous beginner's trap.
Fried Liver Attack
Knight sacrifice on f7 in the Italian exposing the black king to a devastating hunt.
Scholar's Mate
Quick attack on f7 with queen and bishop in the first few moves.
Blackburne Shilling Gambit
Nd4 in the Italian inviting Nxe5?? followed by Qg5 with a queen hunt.
Caro-Kann Trap
Smothered mate on d6 exploiting the pin on the e7 pawn by the queen.
Englund Gambit
Sacrifice of the e5 pawn against 1.d4 — Qb4+ hunting the queen on the queenside.
Fishing Pole Trap
Knight sacrifice on g4 opening the h-file for mate with queen and rook.
Siberian Trap
In the Smith-Morra, mate on h2 with the black queen on the c7-h2 diagonal.
Kieninger Trap
Smothered mate on d3 in the Budapest Gambit.
Lasker's Trap
Underpromotion to knight in the Albin Countergambit winning the queen.
Legal's Trap
Queen sacrifice to deliver an elegant mate with minor pieces.
Elephant Trap
In the Queen's Gambit Declined, Nxd5 loses a piece to Bb4+.
Magnus Smith Trap
In the Sicilian, knight sacrifice on e6 exposing the black king.
Monticelli Trap
In the Bogo-Indian, wins the exchange with Ng5 trapping the bishop.
Mortimer Trap
In the Spanish, Nge7 as a poisoned invitation to white mistakes.
Cambridge Springs
QGD variation where Qa5 exploits the pin on the g5 bishop.
Traxler Counterattack
Bc5 instead of d5 in the Italian, with devastating Bxf2+ if white tries Nxf7.
Greek Gift
Classic Bxh7+ sacrifice followed by Ng5+ and Qh5 with mate on the kingside.
Patzer's Mate
Variation of Scholar's Mate with Qf3 instead of Qh5.
Kieseritzky Gambit
In the King's Gambit Accepted, aggressive Ne5 opening the f-file.
Cochrane Gambit
Against the Petroff, Nxf7!! exposing the black king permanently.
Max Lange Attack
In the Italian, d4 and e5 chasing the black knight with permanent initiative.
Copycat Trap
When the opponent copies all your moves, punish with a quick mate.
Damiano Defense
Punishment of 2...f6 with Nxe5 and Qh5+ forcing the black king to walk.
Smith-Morra Attack
Gambit against the Sicilian with c3 trading a pawn for lasting initiative.
From's Gambit
Aggressive reply 1...e5 against the Bird Opening (1.f4).
Stafford Gambit
After 4.Nxc6??, black opens the d-file and attacks f2/h2 violently.
Noah's Ark Trap
Wall of black pawns on the queenside that traps the white bishop on b3.
Muzio Gambit
In the King's Gambit, O-O sacrifices the knight for a violent attack on the f-file.
Pillsbury Attack
In the QGD, knight on e5 followed by sacrifice on g5 against a castled black king.
Halosar Trap
In the Blackmar-Diemer, queen sacrifice for mate with Bxf7#.
Latvian Gambit
2...f5!? creating immediate tactical complications against 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3.
Knight Fork on c7
In the Scandinavian, Nb5 followed by Nxc7+ attacking king and rook.
Nimzowitsch Trap
In the Sicilian, pin of the c6 knight exploited with Nxc6 and d4.
Tarrasch Trap
In the Open Spanish, Nxc6+ giving discovered check with the rook on e1.