Petrov's Defence, Marshall Trap

The Marshall Trap is a chess opening in Petrov's Defence named after Frank Marshall.

abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
d8 black queen
f8 black rook
g8 black king
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
d6 black bishop
d5 white pawn
f5 black pawn
d4 white pawn
e4 black knight
g4 black bishop
d3 white bishop
f3 white knight
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white rook
g1 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Position after 10.Re1?; Black wins with 10...Bxh2+!

The trap

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6

The trap begins with Black playing Petrov's Defence.

3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. 0-0 0-0 8. c4 Bg4 9. cxd5 f5 10. Re1? (see diagram)

White should play 10.Nc3 instead.

10... Bxh2+!

An unexpected blow.

11. Kxh2

If 11.Nxh2, then 11...Bxd1.

11...Nxf2

Black forks the white queen and bishop, forcing the queen to move.

12. Qe2 Nxd3 13. Qxd3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Qh4+

Followed by 15...Qxe1 winning the e1-rook. Black has a winning material advantage.

References

  • Hooper, David; Whyld, Kenneth (1996) [First pub. 1992]. "Marshall Trap". The Oxford Companion to Chess (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 249. ISBN 0-19-280049-3.
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