B57 · Opening trap · Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation, Sozin Attack
Magnus Smith Trap
The Magnus Smith Trap: in the Sozin Sicilian with ...g6, White plays Nxc6 and e5, and 8...dxe5?? loses the queen to Bxf7+.
Set byWhite
Losing move8...dxe5? → 9.Bxf7+!
Mixing the Classical Sicilian with a Dragon fianchetto against 6.Bc4 is the error. Named after Magnus Smith, Canadian champion in the early 1900s.
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How the Magnus Smith Trap works
Click a card to see it on the board, then play the punishment yourself.
How often does it work?
Counted in real rated Lichess games, not estimated.
Among players rated 1800 and higher, 8...dxe5? was played in 691 of the games our puzzles are drawn from. Strong players fall for it too.
How to avoid the Magnus Smith Trap
What Black should play instead.
Now spot it in a real game
Knowing a trap by name is not the same as seeing it at the board. Solve positions from real games until the pattern fires by itself.
Magnus Smith Trap
Getting there…After 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.e5! the knight on f6 is attacked and the d-file is about to open. 8...dxe5 opens it completely: 9.Bxf7+! Kxf7 10.Qxd8 and the queen is gone.