King's Pawn Game, Alapin Opening Trap
Black checkmates on move 9
King's Pawn Game: Alapin Opening (C20) is a real game that ended in a trap. On move 7, White played 7.Bd2? — a natural-looking move — and Black replied 7...Bf5. The result: Black checkmates on move 9.
Watch the trap, then test yourself
The moves, one by one
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
- 6.
- 7.
- 8.
- 9.
Tap a move to jump to it. The red move is the mistake.
Why the trap works
The mistake 7.Bd2 looks harmless, but it allows 7...Bf5. The king is left without enough defenders and the game ends in checkmate. With this single move the engine evaluation swings by roughly 3.8 pawns in Black’s favour.
How to avoid it
Instead of 7.Bd2, safe options are Ng3. The habit that saves you: before every natural-looking move, ask what your opponent’s best reply is — here it is 7...Bf5.
How to set it
Playing Black? Follow the moves above up to move 7, then wait for 7.Bd2. If your opponent finds Ng3 instead, just keep playing sound chess and look for the next chance.
Trap facts
- Opening
- King's Pawn Game: Alapin Opening
- ECO code
- C20
- Difficulty
- Expert
- Springs the trap
- Black
- The mistake
- 7.Bd2?
- The punishment
- 7...Bf5
- Safe moves
- Ng3
- Game
- NN - Canal (1935)
- Position before the mistake (FEN)
r1b1kbnr/ppp2ppp/8/q2Pp3/1n6/2N5/PPP1NPPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 1 7
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Frequently asked questions
What is the King's Pawn Game: Alapin Opening trap?
King's Pawn Game: Alapin Opening (C20) is a real game that ended in a trap. On move 7, White played 7.Bd2? — a natural-looking move — and Black replied 7...Bf5. The result: Black checkmates on move 9.
How do you avoid the King's Pawn Game: Alapin Opening trap?
Instead of 7.Bd2, safe options are Ng3. The habit that saves you: before every natural-looking move, ask what your opponent’s best reply is — here it is 7...Bf5.
How fast does the King's Pawn Game: Alapin Opening trap win?
Black checkmates on move 9, after White falls for 7.Bd2.
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