A trap in the Vienna Gambit (II)

In the Vienna Gambit, after 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d5! (rather than 3...Nc6? or 3...exf4?, which I looked at previously), play usually continues 4.fxe5 Nxe4. Then 5.d3!? (the second most common move, behind 5.Nf3), tempts Black to play 5...Qh4+ 6.g3 Nxg3. At first blush, this looks very attractive, winning a pawn, further weakening White's king position, and attacking White's rook. Appearances are deceiving: White's counterattack is stronger. After 7.Nf3 Qh5 8.Nxd5! (threatening Nxc7+), Black will be in trouble whether he tries to save his rook, or takes White's rook, allowing White to win his.

The first alternative was seen in Perez Pietronave-Campagnoni, 1996, where Black tried 8...Na6. White chased Black's queen around, beginning with 9.Nf4!, and won Black's knight on g3. Bruce Pandolfini in Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps gives a similar line after 8...Kd8. Note that in either case (8...Na6 or 8...Kd8) if Black responds to 9.Nf4 with 9...Qg4, White wins the queen with 10.Bh3!

The second alternative was seen in Sax-Petran, 1973, where Black played 8...Bg4 (the immediate 8...Nxh1 9.Nxc7+ scores even worse for Black) 9.Bg2 Nxh1. After the dust settled White was left in an endgame a piece up.

The moral of the story: resist temptation with 5...Nxc3! 6.bxc3 and now the most common move, 6...d4, or better yet 6...Be7 7.Nf3 O-O 8.d4 f6, which scores very well for Black.

A trap in the Kan Sicilian

Continuing with the theme of unexpected queen checks, after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 (the Kan Sicilian), White can play almost anything: 5.Nc3, 5.c4, 5.Bd3, 5.Be2, 5.Be3, 5.g3, etc. Er, almost anything except 5.Bf4??, that is. Black wins a piece with 5...e5! (forking bishop and knight) 6.Bxe5 Qa5+ (forking king and bishop), winning the bishop.

Traps and Zaps: Ruy Lopez (Noah's Ark Trap)

Before we say goodbye to Bruce Pandolfini, let's look at a trap that's as old as Noah's Ark (whence the name): 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. d4 b5 6. Bb3 Nxd4 7. Nxd4 exd4 8. Qxd4? 

Black to move

 Answer below!

Traps and Zaps: Two Knights, Max Lange Attack

You probably saw enough silverware yesterday, but please don't forget the "fork"! 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O Bc5 6. e5 d5 7. exf6 dxc4 8. Re1+ Be6 9. Ng5 Qxf6?

White to move

I should mention that Pandolfini's answers in Chess Openings: Traps And Zaps are far more complete than the fragments I'm quoting here.  He's very good at explaining the tactical specifics, then drawing a general conclusions that you can use in similar opening positions.  Anyway, click below for the answer.
 

Traps and Zaps: Four Knights' Game

You won't be a turkey if you recognize the trap motif (you've seen it before in Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps). 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bc4 Bb4 5. O-O d6 6. Nd5 Bg4 7. c3 Bc5 8. d3 Ne7?

White to play

Click for the answer!

Traps and Zaps: Philidor Defense

If you've been reading the last few posts quoting from Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps, you might recognize a familiar opportunity after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Bg4 4. Nc3 h6? 

White to play 

Click below for the answer!

Traps and Zaps: King's Gambit Declined (Desperado)

Here's another classic tactical idea, the desperado, as illustrated in Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps. 1. e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Bc4 d6 5. c3 Bg4 6. Bxf7+? Kxf7 7. Ng5+

Black to play

Click on the arrows below to see the solution!

Traps and Zaps: Vienna Game (Légal's Mate)

Another chestnut from Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps.  1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 d6 4. Nf3 a6?! 5. Bc4 Bg4?! 6. fxe5 Nxe5?

White to play and win

And here's the answer!

Traps and Zaps - Center Game

From Bruce Pandolfini's Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps. 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qe3 Nf6 5. Bc4 Ne5 6. Bb3 Bb4+ 7. c3?! Bc5 8.Qg3?

Black to play and win

Play through the board to see the answer!