Day 2: Blackburne Shilling Gambit: don’t take f7 with the knight
This day is not open yet
Finish the previous day first; each new trap opens the day after.
All 7 daysYou play White. Find a move that does not fall for the trap.
Make your move on the board first — the explanation appears afterwards.
What now?
- Read the short explanation below (about 30 seconds).
- Come back tomorrow for day 3. Tap “Remind me tomorrow” so you don’t forget.
The tempting mistake
5.Nxf7?? grabs a second pawn and forks the queen and rook, but the black queen on g5 is already eyeing g2. After 5...Qxg2 White loses a lot of material; in the source game 6.Rf1? Qxe4+ 7.Be2 Nf3# followed. Note that 4.Nxe5 was already a risky pawn grab.
The safe defence
Deal with the threat to g2 first. 5.O-O puts the king next to g2 and defends it. 5.Bxf7+ is also playable: it takes the pawn with check and drives the black king out. Both keep White in the game.
Day 3 opens tomorrow
Come back tomorrow for the next trap. This link always opens your next day:
Optional. Downloads a calendar file with one reminder per remaining day at 18:00. Nothing is stored on our side and no e-mails are sent.
Source and review
Example game from the trap collection: Muhlock - Kostics, 1912
Source study (Lichess) · Background reading (Wikipedia) · Full trap page
Automated check on 2026-10-10: the line was replayed move by move and the key moves were checked with Stockfish (depth 18).
Human review: ChessGL team, 2026-10-11.