abcdefgh

Final position — Black is winning

Bishop's opening

Nakhmanson Gambit Trap

Black wins in 11 moves with a decisive material gain.

The moves

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.Nc3 dxc3 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qd5+ Ke8 9.Re1 Be7 10.Rxe4 d6 11.Bg5
1.e4e5
2.Bc4Nf6
3.d4exd4
4.Nf3Nc6
5.O-ONxe4
6.Nc3dxc3
7.Bxf7+Kxf7
8.Qd5+Ke8
9.Re1Be7
10.Rxe4d6
11.Bg5

How the Nakhmanson Gambit Trap works

The Nakhmanson Gambit Trap is a classic chess opening trap arising from the Bishop's opening. In this line Black wins decisive material by move 11, punishing a natural-looking but losing idea from White.

The full sequence runs 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.Nc3 dxc3 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qd5+ Ke8 9.Re1 Be7 10.Rxe4 d6 11.Bg5. 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.

Recognising this pattern early lets you either spring it as Black or calmly sidestep it when you are White.

Practice this trap move-by-move

Open the Nakhmanson Gambit Trap 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.

More Bishop's opening traps

← Browse all chess traps