Elephant Trap
With 4...Nbd7 Black seems to leave d5 undefended. If White captures with the Knight, Black sacrifices the Queen and with ...Bb4+ regains it with an extra piece.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Nxd5 Nxd5 7.Bxd8 Bb4+ 8.Qd2 Bxd2+ 9.Kxd2 Kxd8
Move by move
- 1.d4 – White takes the center with the queen's pawn and opens the diagonal for the c1 Bishop. It usually continues with c4 to attack the d5 pawn.
- 1...d5 – Black contests the center with a pawn and prevents e4. This is the basis of the Queen's Gambit Declined: d5 will be defended at all costs.
- 2.c4 – The Queen's Gambit: White attacks d5 with the c-pawn to draw it away from the center. If we took it, White would regain the pawn with e3 and Bxc4.
- 2...e6 – Black declines the gambit and supports d5 with the e-pawn: a rock-solid structure. The price is the c8 Bishop shut in behind e6, the problem to be solved throughout the course.
- 3.Nc3 – The Knight attacks d5 a second time and controls e4. Black must add a defender to the central pawn.
- 3...Nf6 – The Knight defends d5 a second time, controls e4 and prepares short castling. It is Black's most natural development.
- 4.Bg5 – The Bishop pins the f6 Knight to the Queen and reduces its control of d5 and e4. Black must break the pin.
- 4...Nbd7 – The Knight goes to d7 instead of developing the Bishop. It seems to leave d5 weak, but it hides the Elephant Trap.
- 5.cxd5 – White exchanges in the center and prepares to take the d5 pawn with the Knight.
- 5...exd5 – Black recaptures: now d5 seems attackable by the c3 Knight, but it is a bait.
- 6.Nxd5 – Mistake! White thinks the f6 Knight is pinned and captures the d5 pawn.
- 6...Nxd5 – Black captures leaving its own Queen en prise: it is part of the plan.
- 7.Bxd8 – White takes the Queen, but Black has prepared an intermediate check.
- 7...Bb4+ – The check forces the white Queen to interpose: now it is Black's turn.
- 8.Qd2 – The only interposition: the Queen steps in front of the King.
- 8...Bxd2+ – Black takes the Queen with check. White must recapture.
- 9.Kxd2 – The King recaptures on d2. Black still has to regain the d8 Bishop.
- 9...Kxd8 – Black regains the Bishop: in the end it has an extra Knight.
How to exploit the position
Black has an extra Knight: the game is won if it completes development without hurry.
- The trap works because the ...Bb4+ check forces White to lose the Queen after Bxd8.
- Develop the pieces with ...Re8, ...N7f6 and ...Bd7 and exchange pieces to simplify.
- If White does not fall into the trap and plays 6.e3, develop normally with ...c6, ...Be7 and ...O-O.
- Beware: the trap works only if White cannot parry the check with a piece on d2. With the Knight already on f3, after ...Bb4+ Nd2 follows and the sacrifice fails.
Master tips
The Elephant's trick
After 6.Nxd5?? Black captures and leaves the Queen: 7.Bxd8 Bb4+ forces White to give up its Queen.