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Final position — Black delivers mate

Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Back-Rank Mate #2

Black wins in 12 moves by checkmate. (opening traps+ a little bonus - Ruy lopez ,more like ruy looser - C65 - https://lichess.org/@/MarinD2204)

The moves

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Ng4 5.h3 h5 6.hxg4 hxg4 7.Nh2 Qh4 8.f3 g3 9.Re1 Qxh2+ 10.Kf1 Nd4 11.Bxd7+ Kxd7 12.Qe2 Qh1#
1.e4e5
2.Nf3Nc6
3.Bb5Nf6
4.O-ONg4
5.h3h5
6.hxg4hxg4
7.Nh2Qh4
8.f3g3
9.Re1Qxh2+
10.Kf1Nd4
11.Bxd7+Kxd7
12.Qe2Qh1#

How the Ruy Lopez: Back-Rank Mate #2 works

The Ruy Lopez: Back-Rank Mate #2 is a classic chess opening trap arising from the Ruy Lopez. In this line Black delivers checkmate on move 12, punishing a natural-looking but losing idea from White.

The full sequence runs 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Ng4 5.h3 h5 6.hxg4 hxg4 7.Nh2 Qh4 8.f3 g3 9.Re1 Qxh2+ 10.Kf1 Nd4 11.Bxd7+ Kxd7 12.Qe2 Qh1#. 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 (opening traps+ a little bonus - Ruy lopez ,more like ruy looser - C65 - https://lichess.org/@/MarinD2204). Recognising it early lets you either spring it as Black or sidestep it as White.

Practice this trap move-by-move

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