10 Opening Traps That Actually Work

It was on July 17, 2019, that I lost all faith in humanity. That was my first loss to the shameful Englund Gambit, which left me wondering what type of person does this. Why would someone play a dubious opening trap that either gives them a quick win or leaves them in a terrible position? It's like all those people who mob to stores during Black Fridays—they get trampled, elbowed, and screamed at. Eventually, they get what they want, but at what cost? 

But what if you could play for a quick win with an opening trap but still avoid getting trampled if your opponent doesn't fall for it? Here are 10 opening traps that actually work for you to try on your next games:

You can jump to any of the traps by clicking the links below:

• Noah's Ark
• Legal's Mate
• Cambridge Springs Trap
• Lasker Trap
• Rubinstein Trap
• Siberian Trap
• Fajarowicz Gambit
• Blackburne Shilling Trap
• Budapest Gambit Smothered Mate
• Fishing Pole Trap

Noah's Ark

We start with the Noah's Ark trap that you can play in the reputable Ruy Lopez as Black. After a few normal moves, Black can set up a trap to win a piece if White recaptures a lost pawn. If White does go for the pawn, it's bye-bye bishop. If they don't, it's still a Ruy Lopez, and the engine evaluates the position as equal. 

Legal's Mate

There's a strange paradox in chess. Chess players love their powerful queen more than any other piece. But because they love it so, they're also delighted to send it to die. Weirdos. 

And to appease your sacrificial urges, you can play for the sneaky Legal's Mate. You can quickly win the game and style points. All while playing healthy development moves and following chess principles.

Cambridge Springs Trap

When you're not a chess player, the name Cambridge Springs might bring images of flowers and happy places to your mind. Sadly, I'm a 1.d4 player, so the first time I heard this name, I had just lost my queen. Still fuming as I was going through Game Review, I made a promise then and there never to visit Cambridge Springs in Pennsylvania, United States. But if you're on the Black side of a Queen's Gambit, you can play that yourself and never be mad at a (likely) lovely city.

The best part is that you still have a solid position, even if White plays correctly. 

Lasker Trap

Emanuel Lasker was a German chess player who became the second world champion and held his title for almost 30 years. That's not the coolest thing about him, though. He also has one of the most "thug life" underpromotion traps named after him. Now that's a chess legacy. 

The Lasker Trap happens in the Albin Countergambit variation of the Queen's Gambit. Admittedly, this is not Black's most respectable choice against the Queen's Gambit among top players. But if you're a club player, it's definitely a playable option! 

Rubinstein Trap

Unlike Lasker, Akiba Rubinstein was never a world champion. He also has a trap named after him, but for the wrong reasons—he fell for it twice. That only goes to show that even the best players in the world can blunder. To be fair, he didn't have Game Review back then. 

Anyway, the Rubinstein Trap happens in a common variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined. This is as safe as it can be when going for a trap.

Siberian Trap

Sometimes, you just want to play a Sicilian, but White insists on going for the Smith-Morra. I always found this annoying since you can get checkmated quickly if you don't know theory (which is my case). But what if you could turn the tables and go after White's royal couple? Enter the Siberian Trap.

Fajarowicz Gambit

The Fajarowicz Gambit is a trappy line of the Budapest Gambit. It is very much playable, especially among club-level players. While White can go wrong and quickly lose the game in many ways, the most impressive comes with a two-piece sacrifice to win a queen. 

Blackburne Shilling Trap

Alright, alright. I admit this is not the best of traps, and it does require you to play a move you wouldn't want on your resume. But I decided to keep it here because the Blackburne Shilling refutation is just like Mountain Dew: it might be refreshing and delicious, but it definitely doesn't look like the most natural thing in the world. 

After Black plays a strange-looking knight move, White can easily get greedy and grab a pawn. This gives Black an immediate advantage and may even lead to a winning position in a couple of moves. If White doesn't go for it, your knight will be awkwardly placed—but hey, who here never had an awkward moment in life? 

Budapest Gambit Smothered Mate

Another trap in the Budapest, this time in a more common line. This trap is not just about winning. It's all about how you win it. The smothered mate is undoubtedly one of the most satisfying moves in chess. Some might even say it's one of the 10 Chess Moves You Have To Play Before You Die (it's me, I said that).

Fishing Pole Trap

We started with the Ruy Lopez, and we shall end with the Ruy Lopez. Fitting, since apparently Ruy Lopez himself was not below using dirty tricks like placing the chessboard so that the sun would hit his opponent's eyes. Quite a priest, that Lopez guy. 

While the Fishing Pole trap does involve pinning a knight with a bishop (something that backfired in some of the traps mentioned before), this provocative play actually helps the trap work. White can try to kick the bishop away by attacking it with a pawn, but sometimes it pays to be stubborn. For the modest price of a measly minor piece, Black can get a king. Pretty sweet deal, if you ask me.

Have you ever played (or fallen for) any of these opening traps? Let us know in the comment section below!