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The Queen’s Gambit can be a deceptive opening sometimes. Most of the time, it’s safe and solid. However in some lines, there are dangerous traps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this article, you’ll see two such traps –<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You’ll understand the main ideas and the logic behind them as well as how to avoid falling into them. Both of them arise from the Queen’s Gambit Declined variation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let’s take a look –<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It starts with 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the Queen’s Gambit Declined, popularly known as QGD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is known as the Cambridge Springs variations. If you notice, Black hangs their d5-pawn for free. This is where the Elephant Trap<\/a> begins. White continues with<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Nxd5??<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Assuming that the d5-pawn is free. But is it really free? 7.Bxd8<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n White takes the queen. But unfortunately, they are now faced with an unpleasant check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7…Bb4+<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The White king <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hence they’re forced to put their queen in the middle to block the check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 8.Qd2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Now Black first captures the queen with a CHECK! This gives them an extra move to<\/p>\n\n\n\n capture White’s bishop on d8. And now if you count the material, Black has an extra piece. That’s because White lost 3 pieces<\/a> – a knight(on d5), a bishop (on d8) and queen (on d2), whereas Black lost only 2 –<\/p>\n\n\n\n a bishop (on d2) and a queen (on d8). This gives them a winning advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now they threaten for real to take on d5 on the next move – 7.Nxd5 Nxd5 8.Bxd8 Bb4+ and instead of giving up their queen, White has 9.Ke2, escaping the check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore Black should defend the pawn either with 6…c6 <\/strong>or 6…Be7<\/strong>. Play continues with enough fight left for both the sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trap is named after the legendary Abika Rubenstein who fell for it in one of his games against the former world champion Alexander Alekhine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s their game – Alekhine playing with the White pieces and Rubinstein with the Black.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Once again the game has transposed to the Queen’s Gambit Declined Variation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.e3 Be7 6.Nc3 O-O<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Now some usual developing moves are played by both sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7.Rc1 Re8 8.Qc2 a6 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Bd3 c6 11.O-O Ne4 12.Bf4<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The bishop retreats and creates a very subtle threat<\/a> of winning a pawn. Other options aren’t so good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black’s knight on f6, which is the sole defender of the pawn, is pinned<\/a>. If it moves, the queen on d8 will be lost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black has a surprise
6…Nxd5!<\/strong>
Leaving their queen enprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
8…Bxd2+ 9.Kxd2 Kxd8<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nHow not to fall in the Elephant Trap?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Instead of grabbing the pawn with 6.Nxd5, White should continue with 6.e3.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nRubinstein Trap<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>And here the trap starts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n