whole monographs written on this system and some of the complications are barely
comprehensible. Basically black can bring his queen to h4 and will threaten all sorts
of terrible things against white's king.
The Albin Counter Gambit 0-1
Another well known trap runs as follows.
1. d4 d5,
2. c4(2) e5(1),
3. de d4,
4. e3? (4. a3 is better)
4. ... Bb4+(a),
5. Bd2 dxe3(t, --),
6. Bxb4? (6. Qa4+(v) is possible although the complications that arise after 6. ... Nc6(b, i), 7. Bxb4 [7. fe Qh4+, 8. Kd1 {Not 8. g3? Qe4!(#)} 8. ... Qf2! is better for black] 8. ... ef+(g), 9. KxP Qd4+ probably favour black, especially over the board.)
6. ... ef+(r)
7. Ke2 fxg1=N+!!,
8. RxN Bg4+(x) and Black wins white's queen on d1.
The English Defence 0-1
Some players, when faced with the English defence, try to steer the game into calmer
waters. The sequence
1. c4(2) b6,
2. Nc3 Bb7,
3. e4 e6(3),
4. Nf3 Bb4
5. Qb3 is not uncommon. Black may set a trap here with
5. ... Na6(b),
6. a3(-) Nc5!(u) when
7. QxB? loses the queen to
7. ... a5!(-),
8. Qb5 c6!(#). (
7. Qc2 is better but doesn't promise white much. Note that black doesn't (immediately)
win a pawn after
7. ... BxN
8. QxB Nxe4 because white can play
9. Qxg7 and after
9. ... Qf6(c), the position is probably slightly better for black. Things would be different if white
could find a way to play Bh6! [ie by having moved his d pawn earlier]).
The Grob 0-1
The 'Grob gambit' loses after
1. g4 e5(1, q),
2. f4(1)?? Qh4++,
Scholar's mate 1-0
For the sake of sakeness (which is also why the last two are here) I should mention
fool's mate, also known as scholar's mate.
1. e4 e5,
2. Qh5 Nc6,
3. Bc4(1, b) threatening Qxf7++. If
3. ... g6 then
4. Qf3 threatening Qxf7++. If
4. ... Nf6 then
5. g4?! threatening
6. g5(t) and if the knight on f6 moves then, (you guessed it), Qxf7++. Of course, this is a
rubbish opening but it is surprising how many people fall for this trap, especially on
internet chess servers.
