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OPENING TRAP

Englund Gambit Trap: A pawn sacrifice, a pin, and a queen mate on c1

The Englund Gambit Trap is a trap in the Englund Gambit. A pawn sacrifice, a pin, and a queen mate on c1. Checkmate on move 8. The pin on c3 did all the work.

The moves

1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 Nc6 3. Nf3 Qe7 4. Bf4 Qb4+ 5. Bd2 Qxb2 6. Bc3 Bb4 7. Qd2?? Bxc3 8. Qxc3 Qc1#

The final position is checkmate.

  1. 1. d4 White starts with the queen’s pawn.
  2. 1... e5 The Englund Gambit. You offer a pawn for quick development and tricks.
  3. 2. dxe5 White takes the pawn.
  4. 2... Nc6 You attack the pawn and bring a piece out.
  5. 3. Nf3 White defends the pawn.
  6. 3... Qe7 The queen adds a second attacker on e5 and prepares a check.
  7. 4. Bf4 White defends again with the bishop.
  8. 4... Qb4+ Check! The queen also attacks the bishop on f4 and the pawn on b2.
  9. 5. Bd2 White blocks the check.
  10. 5... Qxb2 You take the pawn. The queen now eyes the rook on a1.
  11. 6. Bc3 White attacks your queen with the bishop.
  12. 6... Bb4 A quiet move with a point. Your bishop pins the bishop on c3 to the king, so it cannot take your queen.
  13. 7. Qd2?? White tries to cover everything, but it is a blunder.
  14. 7... Bxc3 You take the pinned bishop. The queen on d2 is now attacked.
  15. 8. Qxc3 White recaptures, which unguards the first rank.
  16. 8... Qc1# Qc1 is checkmate. The white queen left d1, so the rank is open, and every flight square is covered.

How to avoid it

As White, be careful with the b2 pawn and the first rank. Do not answer the queen raid with loose moves like 7.Qd2.

Practise it

In Trap Academy you watch this lesson, then play the Black side yourself against the replies of the trap. This lesson is part of Skillwik Pro.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Englund Gambit Trap?

A pawn sacrifice, a pin, and a queen mate on c1. It arises in the Englund Gambit. Checkmate on move 8. The pin on c3 did all the work.

How do you avoid the Englund Gambit Trap?

As White, be careful with the b2 pawn and the first rank. Do not answer the queen raid with loose moves like 7.Qd2.

More chess traps

Last updated 20 October 2026. Every line on this page is replayed move by move in an automated test.