Chess Opening Traps
An opening trap is a move that looks natural but loses to a prepared tactic. Here are 437 of them, taken from real games and checked with a chess engine. Pick an opening, watch the trap unfold on the board, then test yourself: can you find the safe move?
437traps
64openings
133checkmates
Start here: easy traps every player should know
Alekhine Defense, Normal VariationBird Opening, From's Gambit, Lasker VariationBishop's OpeningBlackmar-Diemer Gambit, Reversed Albin CountergambitBorg DefenseCaro-Kann Defense, Two Knights Attack
Browse by opening
Sicilian Defense 28
Italian Game 22
Bird Opening 19
Ruy Lopez 19
Vienna Game 19
French Defense 17
Caro-Kann Defense 16
Indian Defense 16
English Opening 15
King's Gambit Declined 14
Bishop's Opening 13
Petrov's Defense 13
Alekhine Defense 12
Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Accepted 12
Scotch Game 12
King's Gambit Accepted 10
Scandinavian Defense 10
Englund Gambit 8
Philidor Defense 8
Queen's Gambit Declined 7
Center Game 6
Grob Opening 6
Nimzowitsch Defense 6
Queen's Pawn Game 6
Trompowsky Attack 6
Van Geet Opening 6
Blackmar-Diemer Gambit 5
Elephant Gambit 5
Four Knights Game 5
King's Pawn Game 5
Owen Defense 5
Pirc Defense 5
Queen's Gambit Accepted 5
Benko Gambit 4
Dutch Defense 4
Grünfeld Defense 4
Nimzo-Indian Defense 4
Nimzo-Larsen Attack 4
Polish Opening 4
Queen's Indian Defense 4
Benoni Defense 3
Latvian Gambit 3
Old Indian Defense 3
Ponziani Opening 3
St. George Defense 3
Three Knights Opening 3
Borg Defense 2
Danish Gambit Accepted 2
Danish Gambit Declined 2
King's Gambit 2
King's Indian Defense 2
Latvian Gambit Accepted 2
Modern Defense 2
Rat Defense 2
Réti Opening 2
Tarrasch Defense 2
Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense 2
Zukertort Opening 2
Benko Gambit Accepted 1
Benko Gambit Declined 1
Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Declined 1
Mexican Defense 1
Rapport-Jobava System 1
Slav Defense 1
All traps
Alekhine Defense (12)
Benko Gambit (4)
Benko Gambit Accepted (1)
Benko Gambit Declined (1)
Benoni Defense (3)
Bird Opening (19)
Bishop's Opening (13)
Blackmar-Diemer Gambit (5)
Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Accepted (12)
Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Declined (1)
Borg Defense (2)
Caro-Kann Defense (16)
Two Knights AttackTwo Knights AttackClassical VariationTwo Knights AttackKarpov VariationClassical VariationAccelerated Panov Attack, Modern VariationBreyer VariationAccelerated Panov Attack, Modern VariationForgacs VariationGoldman VariationForgacs VariationKarpov Variation, Modern VariationPanov Attack, Modern DefenseMieses Attack, Landau Gambitvon Hennig Gambit
Center Game (6)
Danish Gambit Accepted (2)
Danish Gambit Declined (2)
Dutch Defense (4)
Elephant Gambit (5)
English Opening (15)
Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Schulz GambitEnglish OpeningAnglo-Indian Defense, Scandinavian DefenseAnglo-Grünfeld DefenseSymmetrical Variation, Normal VariationSymmetrical Variation, Normal VariationMikenas-Carls VariationKing's English Variation, Four Knights VariationKing's English Variation, Two Knights VariationKing's English Variation, Reversed Closed SicilianAnglo-Grünfeld DefenseKing's English Variation, Three Knights SystemSymmetrical VariationKing's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Keres VariationKing's English Variation, Three Knights System
Englund Gambit (8)
Four Knights Game (5)
French Defense (17)
Rubinstein VariationExchange VariationKing's Indian AttackSteiner VariationExchange VariationWinawer Variation, Petrosian VariationWinawer Variation, Delayed Exchange VariationDiemer-Duhm Gambit AcceptedFrench DefenseWinawer Variation, Fingerslip VariationKing's Indian AttackWinawer Variation, Alekhine Gambit, Kan VariationAlekhine-Chatard Attack, Breyer VariationRubinstein VariationWinawer VariationExchange Variation, Monte Carlo VariationSt. George Defense, Traditional Line
Grob Opening (6)
Grünfeld Defense (4)
Indian Defense (16)
Spielmann-IndianBudapest DefenseBudapest DefenseBudapest Defense, Rubinstein VariationBudapest Defense, Adler VariationBudapest Defense, Fajarowicz-Steiner VariationBudapest DefenseBudapest Defense, Rubinstein VariationBudapest Defense, Adler VariationAccelerated London SystemBudapest Defense, Fajarowicz VariationBudapest Defense, Fajarowicz VariationBudapest Defense, Adler VariationBudapest DefenseBudapest DefenseReversed Chigorin Defense
Italian Game (22)
Two Knights Defense, Ponziani-Steinitz GambitTwo Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Knight Sacrifice LineItalian GameBlackburne-Kostić GambitTwo Knights Defense, Open VariationClassical Variation, Center AttackParis DefenseHungarian Defense, Tartakower VariationHungarian DefenseTwo Knights Defense, Ponziani-Steinitz GambitTwo Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Knight Sacrifice LineTwo Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, King March LineClassical Variation, Greco Gambit, Dubov ItalianClassical VariationGiuoco PianoTwo Knights Defense, Kloss GambitTwo Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Knight Sacrifice LineTwo Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Bishop Sacrifice LineClassical Variation, Greco Gambit, Modern LineTwo Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's OpeningClassical Variation, Greco Gambit, Traditional LineTwo Knights Defense, Fritz Variation
King's Gambit (2)
King's Gambit Accepted (10)
King's Gambit Declined (14)
Queen's Knight DefenseQueen's Knight DefenseClassical VariationFalkbeer CountergambitSoller-Zilbermints GambitFalkbeer Countergambit, Nimzowitsch-Marshall CountergambitFalkbeer Countergambit AcceptedFalkbeer Countergambit, Charousek Gambit AcceptedFalkbeer Countergambit AcceptedFalkbeer Countergambit, Charousek Gambit, Keres VariationPanteldakis CountergambitMafia DefenseFalkbeer Countergambit, Charousek Gambit AcceptedFalkbeer Countergambit, Staunton Line
King's Indian Defense (2)
King's Pawn Game (5)
Latvian Gambit (3)
Latvian Gambit Accepted (2)
Mexican Defense (1)
Modern Defense (2)
Nimzo-Indian Defense (4)
Nimzo-Larsen Attack (4)
Nimzowitsch Defense (6)
Old Indian Defense (3)
Owen Defense (5)
Petrov's Defense (13)
Philidor Defense (8)
Pirc Defense (5)
Polish Opening (4)
Ponziani Opening (3)
Queen's Gambit Accepted (5)
Queen's Gambit Declined (7)
Queen's Indian Defense (4)
Queen's Pawn Game (6)
Rapport-Jobava System (1)
Rat Defense (2)
Réti Opening (2)
Ruy Lopez (19)
Morphy Defense, Cozio DefenseBerlin Defense, Anti-Berlin VariationExchange Variation, Normal VariationMorphy Defense, Caro VariationMorphy Defense, Caro VariationExchange Variation, Gligoric VariationExchange Variation, Normal VariationBerlin DefenseExchange Variation, Bronstein VariationExchange Variation, King's Bishop VariationCozio DefenseExchange Variation, Alapin GambitExchange Variation, Normal VariationMorphy Defense, Mackenzie VariationNoah's Ark TrapExchange Variation, King's Bishop VariationOpenExchange Variation, Alapin GambitExchange Variation, Gligoric Variation
Scandinavian Defense (10)
Scotch Game (12)
Sicilian Defense (28)
Sicilian DefenseAlapin VariationDelayed Alapin Variation, with d6Wing Gambit, Marshall VariationStaunton-Cochrane VariationStaunton-Cochrane VariationAlapin VariationSicilian DefenseLöwenthal VariationClosed, Chameleon VariationChekhover VariationSmith-Morra Gambit AcceptedSmith-Morra Gambit AcceptedDragon VariationDelayed Alapin Variation, with d6Delayed Alapin VariationO'Kelly Variation, Normal SystemTaimanov VariationGrand Prix AttackSmith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Fianchetto DefenseModern VariationsMagnus Smith TrapMagnus Smith TrapDragon Variation, Levenfish VariationNajdorf VariationSmith-Morra Gambit AcceptedNyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo AttackChekhover Variation
Slav Defense (1)
St. George Defense (3)
Tarrasch Defense (2)
Three Knights Opening (3)
Trompowsky Attack (6)
Van Geet Opening (6)
Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defense (2)
Vienna Game (19)
Vienna GameVienna GameMax Lange DefenseVienna Gambit, Paulsen AttackPaulsen Variation, Mariotti GambitStanley Variation, Meitner-Mieses GambitFrankenstein-Dracula VariationMax Lange DefenseVienna GameAnderssen DefenseHamppe-Meitner VariationFrankenstein-Dracula VariationVienna Gambit, Main LineFrankenstein-Dracula VariationVienna GambitVienna Gambit, Kaufmann VariationStanley Variation, Meitner-Mieses GambitAdams' GambitAnderssen Defense
Zukertort Opening (2)
Why study opening traps?
Traps teach tactical patterns in the exact positions where you will meet them. Knowing them wins quick games, saves you from painful early losses, and trains the habit of checking your opponent’s best reply before every move.
Train all 437 opening traps — free
Spring them on opponents, spot them before you fall for one, and keep a daily streak. Free with a Chess Global League account.
Start training → Already have an account? Log in Read: Chess Opening Traps — how they work and how to avoid themFrequently asked questions
What is a chess opening trap?
It is a plausible-looking move in the first moves of a game that loses material or the game itself against a prepared reply. The player who sets the trap hopes the opponent falls for it.
How do I avoid opening traps?
Before each move ask what your opponent’s best reply is, be suspicious of “free” material in the opening, and learn the traps of the openings you play. Use the test mode on each page to practise finding the safe move.
Are these traps from real games?
Yes. Every trap comes from a real game and was verified with the Stockfish engine to find the mistake and the safe alternatives.
Is it free?
Yes. Browsing and playing the interactive boards is free and needs no account. A free Chess Global League account adds spaced-repetition training, daily traps and progress tracking.