A06 · Opening trap · Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit
Tennison Gambit Trap
The Tennison Gambit trap, also called the ICBM: after 1.Nf3 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Ng5, the move 5...h6?? loses the queen to Nxf7 and Bg6+.
Set byWhite
Losing move5...h6? → 6.Nxf7!
White gives the e-pawn on move two and heads for f7. Online it is known as the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile gambit. Black is simply better if he develops, but one pawn move loses the queen.
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How the Tennison 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 5...h6? | Fall rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200–1400 | 185 games | 60 | 32% |
| 1500–1700 | 226 games | 73 | 32% |
| 1900–2100 | 85 games | 25 | 29% |
Sample: up to 1,000,000 rated Lichess games per rating band (May 2024), same move order only.
How to avoid the Tennison Gambit Trap
What Black should play instead.
Other versions of the trap
The same idea from a different move order.
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.
Tennison Gambit Trap
Getting there…5...h6 expects the knight to retreat. Instead 6.Nxf7! Kxf7 7.Bg6+! clears the d-file with check, and after 7...Kxg6 8.Qxd8 White has won the queen for two pieces.