Page 3 700 Opening Traps

Queen Pawn Counter Gambit

 (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5) 

This unusual opening is rarely seen and is usually played for its novelty.  A few 

traps have been played with this opening.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 d4 4.Nd5? c6 wins the knight (WMM - Wall, 

Internet 1996)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.Nc3 Qa5 5.Qe2 Nc6 6.d3 Bg4 7.Bd2 Nd4 

8.Qxe5+?? [8.Qd1 looks best] 8…Qxe5 9.Nxe5 Nxc2 mate (Abrikossowski 

- Parkov, Moscow 1938)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 Bd6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.d4 e4 [slightly better may be 5...

exd4 6.Nxd4 O-O] 6.Ne5 h6?! [6...O-O may be safer] 7.Nb5 Bxe5? [perhaps 

7…a6 is a better try] 8.dxe5 Nxd5?? [if 8...Ng8 9.d6; if 8...Ng4 9.e6] 9.Qxd5 

since after 9…Qxd5 10.Nxc7+ forks king and queen (Solderberg - Allen, 

Postal)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 e4 4.Qe2 Qe7 5.Nd4 Nf6 6.Qb5+ Nbd7 7.Nc3 

Qe5 8.Qc4? [8.Nde2 is safer] 8…Nb6 and Black cannot hold on to its piece 

(Mikhailtal - Wall, Internet 1996)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nxe5 Bd6 4.d4 f6? [Black should try 4…dxe4] 5.Qh5+ 

Kf8?? [5…g6 6.Nxg6 hxg6 7.Qxh8 wins the rook] 6.Qf7 (Hindley - Ramsey, 

1963)

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