Chess Opening Traps

Hey! I know a very good trap, Ruy López Opening: Berlin, Fishing Pole Variation! It works like this.

The Fishing Pole stems from the Berlin Defense when white responds with the most common main line move of 4. 0-0. After white castles, black has an interesting move of Ng4. This looks like an odd move because the knight has moved twice in the beginning which is usually not a good thing. The knight is also exposed on the other side of the board and looks to be very vulnerable.

White’s most logical play is to kick the knight out with h3, gaining a tempo and forcing the knight to dance around the board even more. What white doesn’t realize is that black is not going to move his knight and instead will play h5, supporting his knight and baiting white to capture. The problem for white is that if he does capture the knight the game will be lost. Black can capture with his pawn on g4, then bring his queen to h4 and there is nothing that white can do. The game will end shortly in defeat. Even if white tries to develop some of his other pieces, if he ends up taking the knight, the game will end up very bad for white. The great thing about the trap is that if it does not work out, black can simply bring his knight back to a safe square and does not lose much as far as position and development. The possibility of an easy win is usually worth taking a shot with the fishing pole.

The text came from:

https://www.thechesswebsite.com/fishingpoletrap/

This is one trap I used with success after I fell for it myself. Its called Fishing Pole. Video below explains it well.

https://youtu.be/yYgQ4WxJMBQ

Hong Konger beat me to it apparently. 😆

OP, know this though, opening traps are bad for you if the opponents don't fall for them.

If they don't fall for the trap it isn't very good though because the knight doesn't do anything. There is a line in the Exchange which actually is good.

This is a totally legitimate line for black. If white doesn't fall for the trap then the game just continues with the bishop hanging on g4 and it pins the knight to the queen. The position is about equal.

Thank you guys

There is the Two Knights Attack in the Caro Kann.

Two opportunities for black to fall into checkmate. If they don't fall for it then it's still a good line for white.

The Magnus Smith Trap in the Fischer-Sozin Attack. If black tries to play a Dragon from the Classical, then

Perhaps the most famous trap is the one known as Legals Mate, arising from Philidor defense.

This Najdorf trap

If you play h3 and they play Bh5 first then the trap is actually good because you can win back the piece.

The Elephant Trap

The Cambridge Springs Trap

Siberian Trap in Smith Morra Gambit.