Chess opening traps

A trap is a move that looks natural but loses material or leads to mate. These are checked traps grouped by opening: each one has a breakdown — where the mistake is, why it is wrong and how to defend.

Scandinavian Defense

1 trap

  • The pawn to b3 in the Icelandic Gambit

    Scandinavian Defense

    White holds the extra pawn with b3 — Black's bishop and knight hit f2, and a check from b4 drives White's king onto the e-file against the queen.

    In the trainer

Italian Game

2 traps

  • Knight on e5 and the d4 pawn

    Italian Game

    The knight leaves c6 for e5 — and only the bishop on c5 holds the pawn on d4. A series of captures on f7, a queen check — and White wins the bishop, then the pawn.

    In the trainer

  • The bishop takes the rook on a1

    Italian Game

    Black's bishop takes the pawn on c3 and attacks the rook on a1. White gives up the rook: the bishop comes to a3, the rook checks from e1 — and Black loses the knight and the queen.

    In the trainer

Ruy Lopez

1 trap

French Defense

1 trap

  • An early bishop to b5

    French Defense

    White brings the bishop to b5 against the knight on c6 — the knight takes the pawn on e5, and the bishops face each other, with White's undefended.

    In the trainer

Danish Gambit

1 trap

  • Bishop retreats to a5

    Danish Gambit

    The bishop steps away from the pawn to a5 — and the queen on d5 threatens mate on f7 and attacks the bishop.

    In the trainer

Queen's Gambit

1 trap

  • Rook on a8 under attack

    Queen's Gambit

    Black recaptures on b5 with the c6 pawn — and the queen on f3 attacks the rook on a8, which has nowhere to go.

    In the trainer

How to read a trap breakdown

Each breakdown has the starting position, the opponent's mistake and why it is bad, the continuation to the result and, most importantly, how to defend. It pays to know a trap from both sides: then you will not fall into it yourself.

Want to practice on the board?

Every trap on this list can be practiced in a ready opening: in Learn mode with explanations, then in Practice.

All openings