Lasker Trap

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This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Image:chess zver 26.png a8 rd b8 nd c8 bd d8 qd e8 kd f8 g8 nd h8 rd Image:chess zver 26.png
a7 pd b7 pd c7 pd d7 e7 f7 pd g7 pd h7 pd
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 pl f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 bd c4 pl d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 pd f3 g3 h3
a2 pl b2 pl c2 d2 bl e2 f2 pl g2 pl h2 pl
a1 rl b1 nl c1 d1 ql e1 kl f1 bl g1 nl h1 rl
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Position after 5...dxe3

The Lasker Trap is a chess opening trap in the Albin Countergambit, named after Emanuel Lasker, although it was first noted by Serafino Dubois (Hooper & Whyld 1996, p. 219)[1]. It is unusual in that it features an underpromotion as early as the 7th move.

The Albin Countergambit begins with the moves

1. d4 d5
2. c4 e5
3. dxe5 d4

The Black pawn on d4 is stronger than it appears.

4. e3?

Careless. Usual and better is 4.Nf3.

4. ... Bb4+
5. Bd2 dxe3!

(See diagram.) Now White's best option is to accept doubled pawns with 6.fxe3.

6. Bxb4??

Blundering into the Lasker Trap. In an 1899 consultation game in Moscow, Blumenfeld, Boyarkow, and Falk playing White against Lasker tried 6.Qa4+?, but Black wins after this move also. The game continued 6...Nc6 7.Bxb4 Qh4 8.Ne2 Qxf2+ 9.Kd1 Bg4 10.Nbc3 0-0-0+ 11.Bd6 cxd6 12.e6 fxe6 13.Kc1 Nf6 14.b4 d5 15.b5 Ne5 16.cxd5 Nxd5 17.Qc2 Nb4 18.Nd1+ Nxc2 19.Nxf2 Rd2 White resigns.

Image:chess zhor 26.png
Image:chess zver 26.png a8 rd b8 nd c8 bd d8 qd e8 kd f8 g8 nd h8 rd Image:chess zver 26.png
a7 pd b7 pd c7 pd d7 e7 f7 pd g7 pd h7 pd
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 pl f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 bl c4 pl d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 pl b2 pl c2 d2 e2 kl f2 g2 pl h2 pl
a1 rl b1 nl c1 d1 ql e1 f1 bl g1 nd h1 rl
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Position after 7...fxg1(N)+!

The Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (volume D) gives 6.fxe3 as the relatively best move. Black gets a slight advantage, but White has avoided the worst and can defend.

6. ... exf2+

Now 7.Kxf2 would lose the queen to 7...Qxd1, so White must play 7.Ke2.

7. Ke2 fxg1=N+!

Underpromotion is the key to the trap. Instead 7...fxg1=Q 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Rxg1 is OK for White. Now 8.Rxg1 Bg4+ wins White's queen, so the king must move again.

8. Ke1 Qh4+

If White tries 9.g3 then the fork 9...Qe4+ wins the rook on h1.

9. Kd2 Nc6

White is hopelessly lost. After 10.Bc3 Bg4 followed by 11...0-0-0+ is crushing.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Hooper & Whyld 1996 say that Dubois pointed out the trap in 1872 (p. 219). Although they don't specify where Dubois published the trap, it could refer to the three-volume work on the openings that Dubois published from 1868 to 1873 (p.116). Elsewhere they state that the Albin Counter-gambit was not introduced until 1881 (p. 6), which seems to be a contradiction. It isn't clear if the trap discovery date 1872 should perhaps instead be 1882, or if 1881 was the tournament introduction of an opening that had been published in 1872 or earlier.

[edit] References