{"id":1390,"date":"2021-05-25T08:05:11","date_gmt":"2021-05-25T08:05:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chessquestions.com\/?p=1390"},"modified":"2021-06-16T21:38:49","modified_gmt":"2021-06-16T21:38:49","slug":"sicilian-defence-traps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chessquestions.com\/sicilian-defence-traps\/","title":{"rendered":"Sicilian Defence Traps: [Magnus smith, Siberian]"},"content":{"rendered":"
⭐⭐⭐ Take 3 minutes to read and improve your chess game ➡️ : This article was first published on, and is Copyright of Chessquestions.com<\/p>\n
One of the most sharp openings in chess is the Sicilian Defense. No wonder, there are some nasty traps in this opening system. In this article, you’ll see 3 of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Along with that, you’ll also see what you should do to avoid falling into them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This trap<\/a> is named after the player Magnus Smith. It occurs from the Sicilian Classical Sozin Variation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n White plays<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1.e4<\/a> c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the Classical Sicilian. that the e5 pawn is free, can’t Black capture it? This is where the trap lies<\/p>\n\n\n\n 8…dxe5??<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A huge blunder<\/a>. Now White wins the queen with a spectacular sacrifice. This trap occurs from the Smith Morra Gambit. Where does the fancy name<\/a> come from? It comes from a Siberian player named Boris Schipkov, who used it successfully with the Black pieces<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3<\/strong> 9.h3??<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n White blunders and falls right into the trap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9…Nd4!<\/strong> 10…Qh2#<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After deflecting the f3-knight, the control over h2-square is lost. Subtle yet nasty!<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, instead of 10.Nxd4, if White moves away their queen with 10.Qd1, they’ll fall into the checkmate after 10…Nxf3+ 11.Qxf3 Qh2#<\/p>\n\n\n\n To avoid the mate, White could try playing 10.hxg4, but then they lose the queen with 10…Nxe2+.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the 8th move, White should understand Black’s intention. Once White understands that Black is eyeing the h2-square, it is important to cut the Queen’s access to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How can this be achieved?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of blundering with 9.h3, White should play<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9.g3<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The access is cut-off. The position is playable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Saving the best for last! Don’t know whether to call this a trap or a world champion’s classic. It is short, sweet and instructive, named after the famous Bobby Fischer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He played it against another strong American player Samuel Reshevsky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is known as the Accelerated Dragon in the Sicilian Defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Bb3<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n White cleverly defends their c4-bishop instead of castling<\/a>. They are preparing for Black to make a mistake, which is exactly what happens!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Bc4<\/strong>
And this is known as the Sozin Variation.
6…g6?<\/strong>
This is a mistake. Black should continue with 6…e6, which is the best move.
7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.e5!<\/strong>
White gets an advantage after playing this move. You might wonder<\/p>\n\n\n\n
9.Bxf7+! Kxf7 10.Qxd8.
<\/strong>White’s a queen up.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to avoid falling into the trap?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To avoid this trap, Black should play 6…e6, instead of 6…g6. That’s the main continuation. WIth …e6, Black blocks the c4-bishop from attacking the f7-pawn. As a result, White’s e5 move will not be effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2 – Siberian Trap<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This is the Smith Morra Gambit Variation in the Sicilian<\/a>. White sacrifices a pawn to develop their pieces fast and open up lines. Not very popular, but it can be dangerous if Black isn’t careful
3…dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bc4 Qc7 7.O-O Nf6 8.Qe2 Ng4<\/strong>
With this move, Black sets a cunning trap. They are eyeing the h2-square…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A stunning blow. The knight on f3 is overloaded and White is forced to give up their queen. If the knight captures with
10.Nxd4
<\/strong>Thenthey get checkmated after<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to avoid falling into the trap?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3 Fischer Trap<\/h2>\n\n\n\n