Lasker Trap

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This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.
Image:chess_zhor_26.png
Image:chess_zver_26.png
a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Image:chess_zver_26.png
Image:chess_zhor_26.png
Position after 5...dxe3

The Lasker Trap is a chess opening trap in the Albin Countergambit, named after Emanuel Lasker. It is unusual in that it features an underpromotion as early as the 7th move.

The Albin Countergambit begins with the moves

1. d4 d5
2. c4 e5
3. dxe5 d4

The Black pawn on d4 is stronger than it appears.

4. e3?

Careless. Usual and better is 4.Nf3.

4. ... Bb4+
5. Bd2 dxe3!

(See diagram.) Now White's best option is to accept doubled pawns with 6.fxe3.

6. Bxb4??

Blundering into the Lasker Trap. In an 1899 consultation game in Moscow, Blumenfeld, Boyarkow, and Falk playing White against Lasker tried 6.Qa4+?, but Black wins after this move also. The game continued 6...Nc6 7.Bxb4 Qh4 8.Ne2 Qxf2+ 9.Kd1 Bg4 10.Nbc3 0-0-0+ 11.Bd6 cxd6 12.e6 fxe6 13.Kc1 Nf6 14.b4 d5 15.b5 Ne5 16.cxd5 Nxd5 17.Qc2 Nb4 18.Nd1+ Nxc2 19.Nxf2 Rd1 White resigns.

6. ... exf2+

Now 7.Kxf2 would lose the queen to 7...Qxd1, so White must play 7.Ke2.

7. Ke2 fxg1=N+!!

Underpromotion is the key to the trap. Instead 7...fxg1=Q 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Rxg1 is OK for White. Now 8.Rxg1 Bg4+ wins White's queen, so the king must move again.

8. Ke1 Qh4+

If White tries 9.g3 then the fork 9...Qe4+ wins the rook on h1.

9. Kd2 Nc6

White is hopelessly lost. After 10.Bc3 Bg4 followed by 11...0-0-0+ is crushing.

  • Burgess, Graham (2000). The Mammoth Book of Chess. Carroll & Graf. ISBN 0-7867-0725-9. 
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