Chess Openings Lab
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Lasker Trap

In the Albin Countergambit, 6.Bxb4 lets the black pawn run to f2 and then to g1. Black promotes to a knight with check and the white king is stuck in the center.

Opening
Albin Countergambit
Moves
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.e3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 dxe3 6.Bxb4 exf2+ 7.Ke2 fxg1=N+ 8.Ke1 Qh4+ 9.Kd2 Nc6
Set by
Black
The mistake
6.Bxb4
Checked
every move legal; result confirmed by Stockfish 17.1

How the trap works

The Lasker Trap comes from the Albin Countergambit: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4. Black's pawn on d4 cramps White, and 4.e3 tries to break it at once. Black answers with 4...Bb4+ and after 5.Bd2 dxe3, a black pawn sits on e3 next to the white king.

  • 6.Bxb4? is the mistake. White wins the bishop but ignores the pawn on e3.
  • 6...exf2+ captures with check, and the pawn is now one step from promoting.
  • 7.Ke2 is forced. The king has no better square.
  • 7...fxg1=N+! is the famous underpromotion. The pawn takes the knight on g1 and becomes a knight, which checks the king on e2. A queen on g1 would give no check, and the rook on h1 would simply take it.
  • 8.Ke1 Qh4+ drives the king again, and after 9.Kd2 Nc6 Black develops with the white king stuck on d2.

The main idea is tempo. Every Black move after 6.Bxb4 comes with check or a threat. White never gets time to develop the kingside, and the king cannot castle any more.

The exact moment it goes wrong is 6.Bxb4. Before it, the position is roughly level. After it, Black has a winning advantage. The pawn on e3 was the real threat, and White should have taken it with the f-pawn. That move removes the pawn before it can reach f2 or g1.

For club players, the lesson goes beyond this trap: an advanced passed pawn next to your king is worth more than a bishop. Count the checks the pawn can give before you grab material elsewhere. And when promoting, check whether a knight gives check where a queen would not.

How White avoids it

White should take the pawn with fxe3. That removes the advanced pawn before it can reach f2, and the evaluation before the mistake shows the game near level.

Questions

How does the Lasker Trap work?

After 6.Bxb4 exf2+ 7.Ke2, the pawn takes the g1 knight and promotes to a knight, giving check from g1. A queen there would not check and the h1 rook would take it, but the new knight forces 8.Ke1 and 8...Qh4+ chases the king to d2.

What is the losing move in the Lasker Trap?

White's mistake is 6.Bxb4. White should take the pawn with fxe3. That removes the advanced pawn before it can reach f2, and the evaluation before the mistake shows the game near level.

Is the Lasker Trap worth playing for?

Yes as a surprise for Black. The Albin keeps the game close to level, so Black is not risking much while hoping for 6.Bxb4.

Where it comes from

More opening traps