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If you’re a fan of Ruy Lopez opening, you’ll know how positional and solid this line is. But you might wonder – Are there any traps in this opening? It’s very similar to the Queen’s Gambit in this regard. Quiet but deceptive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this article, we’ll cover 4 traps in the Ruy Lopez – <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This article uses chess notation<\/a> throughout. If you have never learned notation before, do not be scared. It is very simple to learn, I have a complete chess notation guide<\/a>, and you will fully understand it in less than an hour. And your chess will improve heaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trap<\/a> is named after James Mortimer. It’ll remind you of a famous chess strategy<\/a> – ‘Play dumb to decieve your opponent.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s how the trap starts – Click on any move to see the board and scroll through the moves.<\/p>\n\n\n [pgn]<\/p>\n 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Ne7<\/p>\n {With the opening white pawn on e4 now hanging, d3 is played and here is the beginning of the Mortimer trap, when we move the knight back Ne7.<\/p>\n This is the main idea behind Mortimer Trap. Black intentionally plays a ‘bad move’ [Ne7], leaving the black pawn on e5 hanging and ripe for the picking.<\/p>\n Can white resist the free pawn on e7? of course not..}<\/p>\n 5. Nxe5?? c6<\/p>\n {Now we are in full flow. Falling prey to Black’s trap. Play continues attacking the white bishop on b5 by pushing out c file<\/a> pawn..}<\/p>\n1 – Mortimer Trap<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n{is the classic Ruy Lopez Opening, and Knight to f6 initiates Berlin Defence}<\/p>\n