Englund Gambit Trap
Queen's Pawn Opening · beginner · set by Black
Black offers a check and a pawn grab — the natural reply loses outright.
Black's queen checks and grabs the b2-pawn, looking greedy and exposed. The natural try to win the queen back, Bc3, is actually a losing blunder: Black pins the bishop, and after the forced sequence White's own pieces block the king in for checkmate. The safe path for White is developing the knight to c3 instead, which defends everything calmly.
Move by move
- 1. d4: A normal queen's pawn opening move.
- 1... e5: Black offers a pawn immediately.
- 2. dxe5: White simply takes it — looks completely safe.
- 2... Nc6: Develops and eyes the pawn on e5.
- 3. Nf3: Develops naturally, defending the extra pawn.
- 3... Qe7: Threatens to win the pawn back and pressures the b-file.
- 4. Bf4: Develops the bishop, ignoring the check for now.
- 4... Qb4+: A real check — White must respond.
- 5. Bd2: Blocks the check safely, looking fine so far.
- 5... Qxb2: Black grabs the pawn on b2 — looks greedy but it's setting a trap.
- 6. Bc3 (the mistake): The natural try to save the piece and win back material — this is the losing move.
- 6... Bb4: Pins the bishop that just moved to c3 — the point of the whole sequence.
- 7. Qd2: Tries to break the pin.
- 7... Bxc3: Forced capture, removing White's defender.
- 8. Qxc3: White is forced to recapture.
- 8... Qc1#: Checkmate — White's own king is boxed in by its own pieces.
Safe instead: Nc3