Traps
Traps that actually work.
Every chess site lists famous traps. This one measures how often each trap line actually lands in real games at your rating, counted against every sampled game in the band. Switch the band in the header and the list reorders.
Showing 11 of 25, most often sprung first at band 1000.
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Blackburne Shilling Gambit
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4 4. Nxe5
Sprung by Black, inside the Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit. The move that invites it is Nxe5.
Taking the free-looking pawn on e5 invites Qg5, and the greedy follow-up 5. Nxf7 loses to a smothered-style mate. White should just castle or play 4. Nxd4.
At band 600, this trap line is completed once every 8,193 sampled games (1 of 8,193).At band 1000, this trap line is completed once every 2,158 sampled games (13 of 28,048).At band 1400, this trap line is completed once every 3,051 sampled games (7 of 21,354).At band 1800, this trap line is completed once every 5,067 sampled games (8 of 40,539).
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Caro-Kann Smothered Mate
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Qe2 Ngf6
Sprung by White, inside the Caro-Kann Defense. The move that invites it is Ngf6.
The most common trap at club level. 5...Ngf6 blocks the e-file sight of the king one move too late: Nd6 is mate because exd6 is pinned.
Frequency data at band 600 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1000 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1400 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1800 arrives with the next monthly batch.
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Damiano Defense Punish
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6 3. Nxe5 fxe5
Sprung by White, inside the King's Pawn Game: Damiano Defense. The move that invites it is fxe5.
2...f6 is the oldest recorded opening mistake. Accepting the knight loses to the h5 check; the king walk ends with White winning heavy material.
At band 600, this trap line is completed once every 1,639 sampled games (5 of 8,193).At band 1000, this trap line is completed once every 3,116 sampled games (9 of 28,048).At band 1400, this trap line is completed once every 10,677 sampled games (2 of 21,354).At band 1800, this trap line is completed once every 20,270 sampled games (2 of 40,539).
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Elephant Trap
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Nxd5
Sprung by Black, inside the Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Knight Defense. The move that invites it is Nxd5.
The d5 pawn is poisoned: 6. Nxd5 Nxd5 wins a piece because the b4 check regains the queen. One of the oldest Queen's Gambit traps.
Frequency data at band 600 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1000 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1400 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1800 arrives with the next monthly batch.
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Englund Gambit Mate
1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 Nc6 3. Nf3 Qe7 4. Bf4 Qb4+ 5. Bd2 Qxb2
Sprung by Black, inside the Englund Gambit: Main Line. The move that invites it is Qxb2.
The whole point of the Englund. After 6. Bc3 Bb4 White must not pin back with 7. Qd2: the queen lands on c1 with mate. 6. Nc3 avoids everything.
Frequency data at band 600 arrives with the next monthly batch.At band 1000, this trap line is completed once every 4,007 sampled games (7 of 28,048).At band 1400, this trap line is completed once every 1,335 sampled games (16 of 21,354).At band 1800, this trap line is completed once every 1,351 sampled games (30 of 40,539).
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Fishing Pole Trap
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Ng4 5. h3
Sprung by Black, inside the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Fishing Pole Variation. The move that invites it is h3.
The knight on g4 is bait. Taking it opens the h-file and the queen arrives on h4 with mating threats against the castled king.
Frequency data at band 600 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1000 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1400 arrives with the next monthly batch.At band 1800, this trap line is completed once every 40,539 sampled games (1 of 40,539).
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Fool's Mate
1. f3 e5 2. g4
Sprung by Black, inside the Barnes Opening. The move that invites it is g4.
The fastest possible checkmate. Weakening the e1-h4 diagonal with both pawn moves is immediately fatal.
At band 600, this trap line is completed once every 8,193 sampled games (1 of 8,193).Frequency data at band 1000 arrives with the next monthly batch.At band 1400, this trap line is completed once every 21,354 sampled games (1 of 21,354).Frequency data at band 1800 arrives with the next monthly batch.
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Fried Liver Attack
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5
Sprung by White, inside the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack, Normal Variation. The move that invites it is Nxd5.
Recapturing with the knight on d5 walks into the knight sacrifice on f7. The king is dragged to e6 and White's attack is worth more than the piece. Black should play 5...Na5 instead.
At band 600, this trap line is completed once every 482 sampled games (17 of 8,193).At band 1000, this trap line is completed once every 484 sampled games (58 of 28,048).At band 1400, this trap line is completed once every 1,124 sampled games (19 of 21,354).At band 1800, this trap line is completed once every 1,763 sampled games (23 of 40,539).
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Halosar Trap
1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. f3 exf3 5. Qxf3 Qxd4 6. Be3 Qb4 7. O-O-O Bg4
Sprung by White, inside the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Accepted: Ryder Gambit. The move that invites it is Bg4.
A Blackmar-Diemer Gambit ambush. 7...Bg4 attacks the queen but 8. Nb5 hits c7 and b4 at once, and Qxb7 follows.
Frequency data at band 600 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1000 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1400 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1800 arrives with the next monthly batch.
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Kieninger Trap
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Bf4 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bb4+ 6. Nbd2 Qe7 7. a3 Ngxe5 8. axb4
Sprung by Black, inside the Indian Defense: Budapest Gambit Accepted, Main Line, Rubinstein Variation. The move that invites it is axb4.
The signature Budapest Gambit smothered mate. 8. axb4 wins a bishop and loses the game: the e2 pawn is pinned and Nd3 is mate.
Frequency data at band 600 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1000 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1400 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1800 arrives with the next monthly batch.
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Lasker Trap
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. e3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 dxe3 6. Bxb4
Sprung by Black, inside the Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit, Lasker Trap. The move that invites it is Bxb4.
An Albin Countergambit classic featuring an underpromotion to a knight with check. 6. Bxb4 loses material by force; White must take with 6. fxe3.
Frequency data at band 600 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1000 arrives with the next monthly batch.At band 1400, this trap line is completed once every 21,354 sampled games (1 of 21,354).At band 1800, this trap line is completed once every 13,513 sampled games (3 of 40,539).
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Legal's Mate
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 d6 4. Nc3 Bg4 5. Nxe5 Bxd1
Sprung by White, inside the Italian Game: Paris Defense. The move that invites it is Bxd1.
Grabbing the queen after 5. Nxe5 loses to a forced mate in two. Black limits the damage with 5...Nxe5, but after 6. Qxg4 White regains the piece and keeps an extra pawn.
Frequency data at band 600 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1000 arrives with the next monthly batch.At band 1400, this trap line is completed once every 21,354 sampled games (1 of 21,354).Frequency data at band 1800 arrives with the next monthly batch.
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Marshall Trap
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 Bg4 9. cxd5 f5 10. Re1
Sprung by Black, inside the Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Tarrasch Variation. The move that invites it is Re1.
A Petrov classic. 10. Re1 walks into the h2 bishop sacrifice; the f2 knight fork then wins the queen for two minor pieces.
Frequency data at band 600 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1000 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1400 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1800 arrives with the next monthly batch.
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Mortimer Trap
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Ne7 5. Nxe5
Sprung by Black, inside the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation, Mortimer Variation. The move that invites it is Nxe5.
The retreat 4...Ne7 baits 5. Nxe5. After 5...c6 the bishop is attacked, and the natural retreat 6. Ba4 loses the e5 knight to the a5 check, as the line shows. White can bail out with 6. Nc4 or 6. Nd3 and stay roughly level, so the trap is a practical gamble rather than a refutation.
Frequency data at band 600 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1000 arrives with the next monthly batch.At band 1400, this trap line is completed once every 21,354 sampled games (1 of 21,354).Frequency data at band 1800 arrives with the next monthly batch.
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Noah's Ark Trap
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. d4 b5 6. Bb3 Nxd4 7. Nxd4 exd4 8. Qxd4
Sprung by Black, inside the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense. The move that invites it is Qxd4.
After 8. Qxd4 c5 the pawn wave c5-c4 buries the b3 bishop; the queen checks in the line shown only delay it. The saving idea came earlier: 8. Bd5 first, hitting the a8 rook, and only then recapturing on d4.
Frequency data at band 600 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1000 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1400 arrives with the next monthly batch.At band 1800, this trap line is completed once every 40,539 sampled games (1 of 40,539).
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Owen's Defense Greco Mate
1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bd3 f5 4. exf5 Bxg2
Sprung by White, inside the Owen Defense. The move that invites it is Bxg2.
Grabbing the g2 pawn loses by force: the queen check on h5 crashes through, and even winning the queen with 7...Nxh5 runs into the bishop mate on g6.
Frequency data at band 600 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1000 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1400 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1800 arrives with the next monthly batch.
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Petrov Copycat Trap
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nxe4 4. Qe2 Nf6
Sprung by White, inside the Petrov's Defense: Damiano Variation. The move that invites it is Nf6.
Copying White in the Petrov fails: after 4. Qe2 the knight must not retreat into the discovered check 5. Nc6+, which wins the queen. Black needs 3...d6 first.
At band 600, this trap line is completed once every 2,048 sampled games (4 of 8,193).At band 1000, this trap line is completed once every 9,349 sampled games (3 of 28,048).At band 1400, this trap line is completed once every 10,677 sampled games (2 of 21,354).Frequency data at band 1800 arrives with the next monthly batch.
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Queen's Gambit Accepted: b5 Punish
1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 b5
Sprung by White, inside the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Old Variation. The move that invites it is b5.
Trying to keep the extra pawn with 3...b5 collapses: after 4. a4 c6 5. axb5 cxb5 the queen check-less fork on f3 wins the a8 rook or the queenside pawns.
At band 600, this trap line is completed once every 2,731 sampled games (3 of 8,193).At band 1000, this trap line is completed once every 1,476 sampled games (19 of 28,048).At band 1400, this trap line is completed once every 3,051 sampled games (7 of 21,354).At band 1800, this trap line is completed once every 3,378 sampled games (12 of 40,539).
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Scholar's Mate
1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Qh5 Nf6
Sprung by White, inside the Bishop's Opening. The move that invites it is Nf6.
The four-move mate. 3...Nf6 develops a piece and loses the game; 3...g6 or 3...Qe7 defends f7 and leaves White's queen misplaced.
At band 600, this trap line is completed once every 4,097 sampled games (2 of 8,193).At band 1000, this trap line is completed once every 14,024 sampled games (2 of 28,048).Frequency data at band 1400 arrives with the next monthly batch.At band 1800, this trap line is completed once every 13,513 sampled games (3 of 40,539).
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Siberian Trap
1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4 Qc7 7. O-O Nf6 8. Qe2 Ng4 9. h3
Sprung by Black, inside the Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Siberian Variation. The move that invites it is h3.
A Smith-Morra accident. 9. h3 attacks the g4 knight but 9...Nd4 deflects the f3 defender, and taking it allows mate on h2.
Frequency data at band 600 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1000 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1400 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1800 arrives with the next monthly batch.
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Stafford Gambit: e5 Push Trap
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6 4. Nxc6 dxc6 5. e5 Ne4 6. d4
Sprung by Black, inside the Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit Accepted. The move that invites it is d4.
Chasing the knight with 5. e5 and 6. d4 drops the h1 rook to the queen check on e4. White needed 6. d3 or 6. Nc3.
Frequency data at band 600 arrives with the next monthly batch.At band 1000, this trap line is completed once every 14,024 sampled games (2 of 28,048).Frequency data at band 1400 arrives with the next monthly batch.At band 1800, this trap line is completed once every 20,270 sampled games (2 of 40,539).
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Stafford Gambit: Oh No My Queen
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6 4. Nxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bc5 6. Bg5
Sprung by Black, inside the Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit Accepted. The move that invites it is Bg5.
The most famous Stafford trick. 6. Bg5 pins nothing: 6...Nxe4 offers the queen, and taking it allows mate in two.
Frequency data at band 600 arrives with the next monthly batch.At band 1000, this trap line is completed once every 14,024 sampled games (2 of 28,048).At band 1400, this trap line is completed once every 21,354 sampled games (1 of 21,354).At band 1800, this trap line is completed once every 20,270 sampled games (2 of 40,539).
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Tennison Gambit Trap
1. e4 d5 2. Nf3 dxe4 3. Ng5 Nf6 4. d3 exd3 5. Bxd3 h6
Sprung by White, inside the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit. The move that invites it is h6.
Kicking the g5 knight with 5...h6 loses the queen: the f7 sacrifice and the bishop check on g6 form a decoy and the d8 queen falls.
At band 600, this trap line is completed once every 8,193 sampled games (1 of 8,193).At band 1000, this trap line is completed once every 14,024 sampled games (2 of 28,048).At band 1400, this trap line is completed once every 4,271 sampled games (5 of 21,354).At band 1800, this trap line is completed once every 13,513 sampled games (3 of 40,539).
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Traxler Counterattack
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 5. Nxf7
Sprung by Black, inside the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Knight Sacrifice Line. The move that invites it is Nxf7.
5. Nxf7 grabs a pawn and forks, but the counter-sacrifice on f2 drags White into a ferocious attack that is very hard to survive over the board.
At band 600, this trap line is completed once every 2,048 sampled games (4 of 8,193).At band 1000, this trap line is completed once every 3,506 sampled games (8 of 28,048).At band 1400, this trap line is completed once every 7,118 sampled games (3 of 21,354).At band 1800, this trap line is completed once every 13,513 sampled games (3 of 40,539).
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Vienna Gambit Copycat Trap
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4
Sprung by White, inside the Vienna Game: Frankenstein-Dracula Variation. The move that invites it is Nxe4.
3...Nxe4 copies a real idea one move too early. 4. Qh5 regains the piece with a huge attack, and the greedy defense loses the a8 rook to the c7 fork.
Frequency data at band 600 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1000 arrives with the next monthly batch.Frequency data at band 1400 arrives with the next monthly batch.At band 1800, this trap line is completed once every 40,539 sampled games (1 of 40,539).
How the rates are measured. A hit is counted only when the full trap line, including the losing move, is completed on the board. Rates come from the club's monthly game sample of the Lichess open database and are shown with their own sample sizes.