Traps, Tricks & Mistakes: Language Trick
“A pawn promotes in any other piece (except king and pawn itself) as soon as it arrives at the last line.” When a beginner learns that rule, he/she is eager to play that move...
Category: Traps, Tricks & Mistakes
Traps, Tricks & Mistakes: Careless Trap
Because there is a limited time to play chess games, players make apparently natural moves in few seconds. That is a way to save valuable seconds for using them in more complicated positions requiring...
Traps, Tricks & Mistakes: Budapest First Victim
This post is a collaboration with Mr Andrew Crosby. Andrew is an expert in chess gambits, which he usually plays in his games with great success. He is a member of our virtual Chess.com...
Traps, Tricks & Mistakes: To Take is The Mistake!
For us, human beings, the natural way to solve problems is to remove the cause of the trouble. For example, if you find an obstacle in your way, you will remove it. If someone...
Traps, Tricks & Mistakes: Time Trick
For sure, many players have been involved on one or the other side in the very common incident presented today. A player makes a move and forgets to press his/her clock. Most frequently, the...
Traps, Tricks & Mistakes: Poisoned Pawn: To Take or Not To Take?
Many factors influence the success of a trap. Some relate to the opponent, like his/her knowledge of the particular opening, mood, and concentration. Others, like the piece configuration, determine when the trap will be...
Traps, Tricks & Mistakes: Writing Notes
An unusual situation shook the chess world in 2015 during the U.S. Championship. From March 31st to April 14th it took place at the emblematic Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Sant Louis. Only...
Traps, Tricks & Mistakes: Weak Squares
The topic of the weak square is an elusive concept which every chess player faces from time to time. Understanding it will help you to progress in the mastery of chess. Today’s game shows...
Traps, Tricks & Mistakes: Knight Trap
I would like to welcome Mr Andrew Crosby to these sections. He is a member of our virtual Chess.com club and takes active part in our online tournaments and matches. Andrew is an expert...
Traps, Tricks & Mistakes: Hopton Trap
Today I will show you a tricky way to face the Dutch Defense, which starts with the move order 1.d4 f5. Against the Dutch, a surprising move is the Hopton Attack, which continues with...
