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Final position — Black is winning

Nimzovich Defence

Nimzovich Defence: Black Queen Trap

Black wins in 14 moves with a decisive material gain. (Bouillon - Schwab, Germany 1991)

The moves

1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.dxe5 Nxe5 4.Nf3 Qf6 5.Nxe5 Qxe5 6.Bd3 Bc5 7.O-O Nf6 8.Nc3 d6 9.h3 Bxh3 10.Nd5 Qg3 11.Nxf6+ gxf6 12.Qf3 Qxf3 13.gxf3 Rg8+ 14.Kh2 Bxf1
1.e4Nc6
2.d4e5
3.dxe5Nxe5
4.Nf3Qf6
5.Nxe5Qxe5
6.Bd3Bc5
7.O-ONf6
8.Nc3d6
9.h3Bxh3
10.Nd5Qg3
11.Nxf6+gxf6
12.Qf3Qxf3
13.gxf3Rg8+
14.Kh2Bxf1

How the Nimzovich Defence: Black Queen Trap works

The Nimzovich Defence: Black Queen Trap is a classic chess opening trap arising from the Nimzovich Defence. In this line Black wins decisive material by move 14, punishing a natural-looking but losing idea from White.

The full sequence runs 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.dxe5 Nxe5 4.Nf3 Qf6 5.Nxe5 Qxe5 6.Bd3 Bc5 7.O-O Nf6 8.Nc3 d6 9.h3 Bxh3 10.Nd5 Qg3 11.Nxf6+ gxf6 12.Qf3 Qxf3 13.gxf3 Rg8+ 14.Kh2 Bxf1. 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 (Bouillon - Schwab, Germany 1991). 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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