Scotch Game, Schmidt Variation Trap
Black wins a piece on move 5
Scotch Game: Schmidt Variation (C45) is a real game that ended in a trap. On move 5, White played 5.Bd3? — a natural-looking move — and Black replied 5...Nxd4. The result: Black wins a piece on move 5.
Watch the trap, then test yourself
The moves, one by one
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
Tap a move to jump to it. The red move is the mistake.
Why the trap works
The mistake 5.Bd3 looks harmless, but it allows 5...Nxd4. The trapper ends up a full piece ahead. With this single move the engine evaluation swings by roughly 10.3 pawns in Black’s favour.
How to avoid it
Instead of 5.Bd3, safe options are Nxc6, Nc3, f3, Qd3. The habit that saves you: before every natural-looking move, ask what your opponent’s best reply is — here it is 5...Nxd4.
How to set it
Playing Black? Follow the moves above up to move 5, then wait for 5.Bd3. If your opponent finds Nxc6 instead, just keep playing sound chess and look for the next chance.
Trap facts
- Opening
- Scotch Game: Schmidt Variation
- ECO code
- C45
- Difficulty
- Rookie
- Springs the trap
- Black
- The mistake
- 5.Bd3?
- The punishment
- 5...Nxd4
- Safe moves
- Nxc6, Nc3, f3, Qd3
- Game
- Lukelau - Wall, Bill (1996)
- Position before the mistake (FEN)
r1bqkb1r/pppp1ppp/2n2n2/8/3NP3/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R w KQkq - 1 5
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Scotch Game: Schmidt Variation trap?
Scotch Game: Schmidt Variation (C45) is a real game that ended in a trap. On move 5, White played 5.Bd3? — a natural-looking move — and Black replied 5...Nxd4. The result: Black wins a piece on move 5.
How do you avoid the Scotch Game: Schmidt Variation trap?
Instead of 5.Bd3, safe options are Nxc6, Nc3, f3, Qd3. The habit that saves you: before every natural-looking move, ask what your opponent’s best reply is — here it is 5...Nxd4.
How fast does the Scotch Game: Schmidt Variation trap win?
Black wins a piece on move 5, after White falls for 5.Bd3.
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