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Five opening traps worth knowing
Traps win games in 5–10 moves. Knowing them so you never fall for one is even more important.
1. Scholar's Mate
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Qh5 Nf6?? 4.Qxf7#. White targets the weak f7 square. The defence is simple: 3…g6 or 3…Qe7.
2. Légal's Mate
White “blunders” the queen, but if Black takes it, the knights and bishop deliver mate. Lesson: before capturing, look one move further.
3. The Philidor trap
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Bg4?, White can sacrifice the queen and mate on e7 or d7 if Black gets greedy.
4. The Rubinstein trap
In the Queen's Gambit, Black grabs a pawn too early and loses the queen to a pin.
5. Back-rank mate
If the king has no escape square (pawns still on f2, g2, h2), a rook on the back rank mates. Play h3 or g3 in time.
Set up any position on the analysis board and press “Opponent threats” — it warns you when a trap is coming.
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