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The Queen's Gambit Accepted Trap

Holding the pawn with ...b5 leaves the a8 rook exposed on the long diagonal.

Opening: Queen's Gambit Accepted. Set by White. Level: Intermediate.

Practise setting and escaping it

The moves

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 b5 4.a4 c6 5.axb5 cxb5 6.Qf3

The mistake: Black plays cxb5 (1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 b5 4.a4 c6 5.axb5 cxb5)

It only works after a mistake

Black must play cxb5 for it to work. White's moves are good moves; the trap only punishes Black's greed.

Final position after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 b5 4.a4 c6 5.axb5 cxb5 6.Qf3

How to avoid it

Don't try to keep the c4 pawn; develop with Nf6 and e6.

Practise setting and escaping it