Lessons
Chess Traps and Miniatures Part 1 - Quick Knockouts

Chess Traps and Miniatures Part 1 - Quick Knockouts

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Chess.com Team
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Learn how to win in the opening!

Ready for some excitement! This is a course on chess traps and miniatures. They are from actual chess games that have ended in 20 moves or fewer. In almost every game, errors are swiftly punished, and thus this course may be studied as a source of opening traps and lines to be avoided or take advantage of. This course provides an excellent opportunity to study tactical positions, attacks, combinations, and sacrifices. Start winning with opening traps today!

Here is what you will learn:

  • Perfect your attacking play!
  • Learn key opening traps!
  • Never miss a chance in the opening!

Warren - Selman, Corr 1930

This lesson demonstrates that a slight weakness in a position or not protecting a vital square can lead to loss of material and the game.
3 Challenges

Krejcik - Takacs, Vienna 1920

This lesson shows what happens when a player is too greedy and grabs a poisoned pawn without thinking about the consequences.
4 Challenges

Dadian - Doubrava, Kiev 1896

This lesson demonstrates how quick development can win against a cramped position.
3 Challenges

Muhlock - Kostics, Cologne 1912

This lesson has both sides attacking each other's kingside. Whoever can maintain the attack with more threats, such as checkmate, wins.
3 Challenges

Charosh - Jaffe, New York 1936

This lesson focuses on attacking and mating threats when a King is too exposed and has limited moves.
3 Challenges

Abrahams - Thomas, Liverpool 1923

The game was played by International Master Gerald Abrahams against W. Thomas in Liverpool, 1923.
4 Challenges

Barnett - Eastwood, Correspondence 1949

This lesson demonstrates the pin of a Bishop and a fork of a Knight that leads to material gain. The game was played by Barnett vs. Eastwood, correspondence 1949.
4 Challenges

NN - Leonhardt, Leipzig 1903

This lesson shows the power in the Bishop-Knight combination aimed at the enemy King and Queen.
4 Challenges

Wren - Mayfield, Halifax 1941

This game was played by Fred Wren playing White against Mayfield, playing Black. The game was played in Halifax in 1941.
3 Challenges

Benko - Sawyer, New York 1964

This lesson features a checkmate pattern against an enemy King caught in the center. It was played by Paul Benko as White against Sawyer in New York in 1964.
3 Challenges

Cheron - Polikier, France 1927

It was played in France in 1927 by AndreCheron as White against Polikier as Black.
5 Challenges

Matamoros - Madikwe, Lucerne 1982

This lesson shows a fast Queenside attack and the power of the pin. It was played by Carlos Matamoros Franco as White against Gotile Madikwe as Black at the Chess Olympiad in Lucerne in 1982.
3 Challenges

Mazel - Botvinnik, Leningrad 1940

This lesson demonstrates the power and attacking abilities of the Knights with an enemy King caught in the center, and a cramped enemy Queen.
7 Challenges

Beissel - Winborn, Correspondence 1985

Here is a position that White attacks Black's Queen and King with discovered attacks, which eventually lead to checkmate.
3 Challenges

Chekhov - Razuvaev, Moscow 1982

This lesson demonstrates a Queen hunt. White continues to attack Black's Queen until it is trapped or until he has a large material advantage.
5 Challenges

Wall - Vargas, San Antonio 1979

This lesson demonstrates the weakness of an exposed King that has nowhere to hide. This opening trap leads to a checkmate in the middle of the board.
3 Challenges

Lederman - Smirin, Israel 1982

This lesson demonstrates a kingside attack with all the right pieces working together. Black has the potential of checkmating White.
4 Challenges

Meinsohn - Meng, France 2002

This lesson demonstrates a mating threat against a King caught in the center of the board.
4 Challenges

Blom - Jensen, Denmark 1934

This lesson demonstrates the power of two Bishops attacking the enemy King when there are no defenders.
3 Challenges

Kunin - Ochsengolt, Moscow 1958

This lesson demonstrates that good development of your pieces can lead to a won game or checkmate when the enemy King has no protection.
3 Challenges

Chess Traps and Miniatures Part 1 - Quick Knockouts

Tactics
20 Lessons
No Videos
74 Challenges
Released 12/10/2007

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