Costage Trap = Not Worth It

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Rosenbalm

I'm sure most club level players (particularly Italian players) or Chessmaster users have heard about the Costage trap.  For those who aren't aware of it, it's a dubious pawn sacrifice that leads to an attack by black - but in reality gives white an attack. Here's what the black player is hoping for:

 

 

The problem, however, is what usually always happens:

And white gets a big attack.

 

So far I've gotten two opponents to fall into the "trap", and while I won both times, it was a fight for my life. I don't recommend anyone ever playing it, because at worst, they play the best move (take your knight and castle, leaving you with a weak doubled pawn and bad development), and at worst, they get two pawns for the piece and a kinghunt.

 

The following game is the last time I ever attempt the Costage (yes, it was a wipe-out in the end but for a long time I was really sweating...):

RJ_Cartier
Kostic trap. I call it the Blackburne-Shilling trap.