Opening Traps/ Annoying Ideas to watch out for
Hello everyone!
This is my second blog and today I am going to talk about something different.
This blog will be about opening traps as well as some annoying ideas that you need to be aware of.
So let's get going!
Trap/Idea 1:
This is the delayed Sicilian alapin and Black should be aware of this move order if he is a Sicilian player. White often plays this setup and wants to follow up with c3 and d4, gaining control of the center. So what should Black do here?
This should have been pretty obvious, but Black can't take the pawn on e4 because of Qa4 check. That is why he plays Bd7! Anyway, the next trap:
This is the Smith-Morra gambit and White is attempting to transpose into main lines. However, Black has played e5 to stop this. What should white do now?
This should also be relatively obvious as Nxe5 leads to Qa5+. White's best continuation is c3 and he gets good compensation for the pawn, as is in the Smith-Morra.
Next trap:
White has played f3 instead of Nc3 and he wants to get into the Maroczy Bind. However, Black has played 6... a5!!! What should White do here?
This one was slightly trickier but it still should have been obvious. It is important to note that after 6.. a5! White can still play 7. a4 and reach the Maroczy Bind, but it will not be that good for him because he won't have the typical idea of b4 and Black reaches a good position. Anyway, next idea:
This isn't really a trap but it's a move order trick that White does. What is the precise move order for Black?
Black should not play 3.. Bc5 to try and copy Black. If he does then White can play 4.. Qg4!!
I had to learn this the hard way in a game once as Black, where I "fell" in the Qg4 "trap". Black should play Nf6 (instead of Bc5) after which White plays d3, Nge2 and f4. Play is balanced. Next trap:
This is the Scotch Game and White is attempting to win some material. I actually faced this in a game once and I did not know the exact way to go. What is Black's best continuation here?
Last trap!
Let's give some background first:
As shown Black can play Ng4 in the Najdorf to try and exchange the e3 bishop (generally a bad exchange for White in open sicilians). So can he also do this in the dragon?
Ng4 is actually a big mistake!!! Does anyone know why??
White can play Bb5+! Black loses material no matter what. If he plays Bd7 then White can take the knight on g4 as Black cannot take the queen, since his bishop is pinned. If he plays Nc6 then White will win the a8 rook after Nxc6.
This is why Ng4 is possible in the Najdorf as Black has played a6 in advance to stop Bb5+.
Anyway, I hope you liked this blog! Please comment below your thoughts!
