The Terrible Traxler pt 2

The Terrible Traxler pt2

The Beginner's Trap in the Traxler

     After the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5 5.Nxf7 Bf2+ 6.Kxf2 Nxe4+ and now White has several choices. Today we will look at the worst choice 7.Ke1?.

     Black now plays 7...Qh4+. Now only 1 move because if 8.Ke2 then 8...Qf2+ 9.Kd3 Nb4+ (9...Nc5+ leads to the same results)10.Kxe4 Qf4#.

     Okay so 8.g3 is the only move then Black plays 8...Nxg3. There is  now only one move 9.hxg3 because if 9.Nxh8 then we play like in the variation before. 9...Ne4+ 10 Ke2 Qf2+ 11.Kd3 Nb4+ 12. Kxe4 Qf4#. 

      After 8.g3 Nxg3 9.hxg3 Qxh1+ 10 Bfi+ (10 Ke2?? loses the Queen after 10.Nd4+)0-0 we have the following winning position. 11.Qe2 Nd4 12. Qg2 Qxg2 13.Bxg2 Nxc2+ with a decisive material advantage.

     So what you ask who would play Ke1? When beginners first come into contact with the Traxler an amazing amount fall for this trap, hence the name The Beginner's Trap. Below is the game we just discussed.