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The Petrov Queen Trap

The knight on e5 is pinned to nothing; moving it uncovers check on the e-file and attacks the queen.

Opening: Petrov Defence. Set by White. Level: Intermediate.

The moves

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nxe4 4.Qe2 Nf6 5.Nc6+

It only works after a mistake

Black must play Nf6 for it to work. Qe2 is a reasonable move, so the trap costs White nothing.

How to avoid it

Qe7 blocks the e-file.

Practise setting and escaping it