Chess Traps

Quiz 1.2(A)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.d4 b5 6.Bb3 Nxd4 7.Nxd4 exd4

White to move.

• White can't recapture with 8.Qxd4, because of 8...c5 9.Qd5 Be6 10.Qc6+ Bd7 11.Qd5 c4. [This sequence, known as the Noah's Ark Trap may have claimed more victims than any other trap in chess. Alekhine once recommended 8.Qxd4 in a tournament book, and suggested that 11...Be6 was a draw by repetition!]
• 8.Bd5 and 8.a4 are good for White.

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