Chess opening traps.
Set them. Dodge them.
23 famous opening traps on a live board: the losing move, the punishment, the move to play instead, and how often each one works in real games.
23 traps
Fried Liver AttackItalian Game: Two Knights Defense · set by White4...d5 5.exd5 5...Nxd5?54% of players rated 1200–1400 fall for it
Vienna Gambit TrapVienna Game: Vienna Gambit · set by White2...Nf6 3.f4 3...exf4?45% of players rated 1200–1400 fall for it
Blackburne Shilling TrapItalian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit · set by Black3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Nxe5?25% of players rated 1200–1400 fall for it
Queen's Gambit Accepted TrapQueen's Gambit Accepted · set by White2...dxc4 3.e3 3...b5?25% of players rated 1200–1400 fall for it
Giuoco Piano Centre TrapItalian Game: Giuoco Piano · set by White5...exd4 6.cxd4 6...Bb6?22% of players rated 1200–1400 fall for it
Scholar's MateKing's Pawn Game: Wayward Queen Attack · set by White2...Nc6 3.Bc4 3...Nf6?4% of players rated 1200–1400 fall for it
Englund Gambit TrapEnglund Gambit · set by Black5.Bd2 Qxb2 6.Bc3?34% of players rated 1200–1400 fall for it
Stafford Gambit TrapPetrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit · set by Black5.d3 Bc5 6.Bg5?17% of players rated 1200–1400 fall for it
Petrov Defense TrapPetrov's Defense · set by White3...Nxe4 4.Qe2 4...Nf6?10% of players rated 1200–1400 fall for it
Caro-Kann Advance Bishop TrapCaro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Tal Variation · set by White3...Bf5 4.h4 4...e6?43% of players rated 1200–1400 fall for it
Tennison Gambit TrapZukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit · set by White4...exd3 5.Bxd3 5...h6?32% of players rated 1200–1400 fall for it
Dinic Gambit TrapCaro-Kann Defense: Dinic Gambit · set by White4...exd3 5.Bxd3 5...h6?11% of players rated 1200–1400 fall for it
Scotch Gambit TrapScotch Game: Scotch Gambit · set by White5...dxc3 6.bxc3 6...Be7?3% of players rated 1200–1400 fall for it
Philidor Hanham TrapPhilidor Defense: Hanham Variation · set by White3...Nd7 4.Bc4 4...Be7?Too rare at 1200–1400 to count
Elephant TrapQueen's Gambit Declined · set by Black5.cxd5 exd5 6.Nxd5?Too rare at 1200–1400 to count
Lasker TrapQueen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit · set by Black5.Bd2 dxe3 6.Bxb4?Too rare at 1200–1400 to count
Mortimer TrapRuy Lopez: Berlin Defense · set by Black4.d3 Ne7 5.Nxe5?Too rare at 1200–1400 to count
Noah's Ark TrapRuy Lopez: Steinitz Defense Deferred · set by Black7.Nxd4 exd4 8.Qxd4?Too rare at 1200–1400 to count
Siberian TrapSicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit · set by Black8.Qe2 Ng4 9.h3?Too rare at 1200–1400 to count
Magnus Smith TrapSicilian Defense: Classical Variation, Sozin Attack · set by White7...bxc6 8.e5 8...dxe5?Too rare at 1200–1400 to count
Fishing Pole TrapRuy Lopez: Berlin Defense · set by Black5.h3 h5 6.hxg4?Too rare at 1200–1400 to count
Kieninger TrapIndian Defense: Budapest Defense · set by Black7.a3 Ngxe5 8.axb4?Too rare at 1200–1400 to count
Légal's MatePhilidor Defense · set by White4...g6 5.Nxe5 5...Bxd1?Too rare at 1200–1400 to count
What counts as an opening trap?
A trap is a position where the natural-looking move loses. Some are set on purpose with a slightly risky move, like the Blackburne Shilling Trap or the Englund Gambit; others are simply the punishment for grabbing a pawn or a piece too early, like the Noah's Ark Trap in the Ruy Lopez. Every line on these pages is checked with Stockfish, and the fall rates come from rated Lichess games, so you can see which traps are worth knowing at your level.
Want to drill them? Each trap links to puzzles from the same opening, taken from real games. Or start with a study to learn the opening around the trap.