Page 3 700 Opening Traps

Larsen’s Opening

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700 Opening Traps

Bill Wall

INTRODUCTION

Probably the most important part of a chess game for the amateur chess 

player is the opening.  At the amateur level, most games are won or lost 

in the opening through mistakes or falling in a book trap.  It is important 

to study the openings and know what traps and pitfalls may arise from a 

particular variation, either to spring it on anopponent or avoid a trap that 

your opponent is trying to spring on you.  Short games illustrate how to 

take advantage of poor opening strategy or erroneous development by an 

opponent who may not be familiar with a particular opening.  

This collection of chess opening traps is aimed at anyone who enjoys short 

chess games.  Some of the games and traps may be absurd, but they have been 

played by someone.  All the games have been derived from practical play, 

from amateur to Grandmaster level.  Opening traps are useful in blitz play, 

Internet play, and usually with players who do not study opening theory.  

And at one time or another, all players, from Grandmaster to novice, have 

fallen for a chess trap or sprung one on some unsuspecting opponent.

I have arranged the material alphabetically by opening name.  Opening names 

have a kind of history behind them, and it is easier to remember a name than 

some alphanumeric code such as the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO) 

naming convention.  Find the opening you like and play over some of the 

short games and traps.  Perhaps a few ideas can come of it and you can try a 

trap at least once against your favorite opponent.  

There are thousands of games that have been played that are 10 moves or less.  

There are hundreds of thousands of games that are 25 moves or less.   These 

700 games are short from just a few moves to less than 15 moves.  This is just 

a sampling of some of the chess traps that have been played in the game of 

chess over the past 500 years.  Enjoy.