Scotch Gambit Trap
The Scotch Gambit trap: after taking on c3, the retreat 6...Be7?? allows 7.Qd5 with a mate threat on f7, and Black must give up a knight.
In the Scotch Gambit White gives one or two pawns for open lines towards f7. Black can take them, but the bishop on b4 then has to retreat to the right square.
How the Scotch Gambit 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.
| Rating | Reached the position | Played 6...Be7? | Fall rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200–1400 | 103 games | 3 | 3% |
| 1500–1700 | 182 games | 28 | 15% |
| 1900–2100 | 181 games | 20 | 11% |
Sample: up to 1,000,000 rated Lichess games per rating band (May 2024), same move order only.
Among players rated 1800 and higher, 6...Be7? was played in 3,722 of the games our puzzles are drawn from. Strong players fall for it too.
How to avoid the Scotch Gambit 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.
Scotch Gambit Trap
Getting there…6...Be7 looks solid, but it takes e7 away from the queen. 7.Qd5! threatens mate on f7, and nothing covers it except 7...Nh6. Then 8.Bxh6 wins a piece, since 8...gxh6 9.Qxf7 is mate. After 8...O-O the bishop retreats and White is a piece up.