Final position — Black is winning
Caro-Kann Defence: Opening Trap (Metzger–Brandon)
Black wins in 6 moves with a decisive material gain. (Metzger - Brandon, USA 1989)
The moves
| 1. | e4 | c6 |
| 2. | d3 | d5 |
| 3. | Nd2 | g6 |
| 4. | f4 | Nh6 |
| 5. | Ngf3 | Ng4 |
| 6. | Be2 | Ne3 |
How the Caro-Kann Defence: Opening Trap (Metzger–Brandon) works
The Caro-Kann Defence: Opening Trap (Metzger–Brandon) is a classic chess opening trap arising from the Caro-Kann Defence. In this line Black wins decisive material by move 6, punishing a natural-looking but losing idea from White.
The full sequence runs 1.e4 c6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 g6 4.f4 Nh6 5.Ngf3 Ng4 6.Be2 Ne3. Each move looks reasonable, which is exactly why the trap is so effective over the board — White walks into it while trying to play "normal" developing moves.
This pattern is well known from master and correspondence play (Metzger - Brandon, USA 1989). Recognising it early lets you either spring it as Black or sidestep it as White.
Practice this trap move-by-move
Open the Caro-Kann Defence: Opening Trap (Metzger–Brandon) in the Trapsterapp to play it out on a live board, drill it in practice mode, and learn how to avoid it when it's set for you — along with the full library of chess traps and gambits, fully offline.