Traps & gambits
Scholar's mate, Legal trap, popular gambits: how to set them and how to avoid them.
Articles in this theme
The Fried Liver Attack in the Italian
The Fried Liver sacrifices a knight on f7 to drag the black king into the center. Here is the exact sequence, and the one move that avoids the whole trap.
The back-rank mate: the pattern you absolutely must know
The back-rank mate traps the king behind its own pawns on the last rank. Here is how to spot it, how to force it, and above all how to never suffer it.
The Scholar's Mate: how to set it, and above all how to stop it
The Scholar's Mate delivers checkmate in four moves on f7. Here is the exact sequence to set it, and the two simple ways to parry it for sure.
The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit: attack at any cost
The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit offers a pawn on move two against 1.d4 d5 for a fast attack. Here is the exact sequence and how Black neutralizes it.
The Danish Gambit: attacking on move three
The Danish Gambit offers two pawns for two bishops aimed at the black king. The exact moves, the idea behind them, and the ...d5 break that equalizes.
Is a gambit really worth the pawn?
A gambit sacrifices a pawn for attack and development. But does it really pay off? What a gambit is, when it works, and when it turns against you.
5 opening traps to win in 10 moves
Five famous opening traps that mate or win big in fewer than ten moves. The exact sequences, how to set them, and how to keep from falling for them.
The Legal Trap: sacrificing your queen to mate
The Legal Trap sacrifices the queen and mates two moves later with bishop and knight. The exact sequence, why it works, and how Black sidesteps it.
The King's Gambit Accepted: playing with fire
The King's Gambit Accepted sacrifices a pawn to open the f-file and attack. Here is the exact sequence, the main lines, and Black's reliable defenses.
The Budapest Gambit: the surprise against 1.d4
The Budapest Gambit offers a pawn on move two against 1.d4, with a fierce mating trap in store. Its exact moves, the Kieninger mate, and how to play it.
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