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The Siberian Trap

The knight on d4 hits the queen and opens the way for Qh2 mate.

Opening: Smith-Morra Gambit. Set by Black. Level: Intermediate.

Practise setting and escaping it

The moves

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bc4 Qc7 7.O-O Nf6 8.Qe2 Ng4 9.h3 Nd4

The mistake: White plays h3 (1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bc4 Qc7 7.O-O Nf6 8.Qe2 Ng4 9.h3)

It only works after a mistake

White must play h3 for it to work. Black's set-up is a standard answer to the Smith-Morra Gambit.

Final position after 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bc4 Qc7 7.O-O Nf6 8.Qe2 Ng4 9.h3 Nd4

How to avoid it

Nb5 or g3 instead of h3.

Practise setting and escaping it