intermediateQueen's Gambit Declined♚ Black to play+40 XP

Elephant Trap

A classic trap where Black wins material after White greedily captures the d5 pawn.

Move Sequence

1.d4d52.c4e63.Nc3Nf64.Bg5Nbd75.cxd5exd56.Nxd5Nxd57.Bxd8Bb4+8.Qd2Bxd2+9.Kxd2Kxd8

Step-by-Step Explanation

1

White plays cxd5 exd5, then greedily takes Nxd5

2

Black responds Nxd5, and after Bxd8, plays the shocking Bb4+!

3

White must block with Qd2, then Bxd2+ Kxd2 Kxd8

4

Black has won a full piece!

Move Annotations

1. d4Queen's pawn opening
d5Symmetrical center
2. c4The Queen's Gambit
e6Declines
3. Nc3Develops
Nf6Develops
4. Bg5Pins the knight
Nbd7Sets the trap — looks passive but...
5. cxd5White exchanges
exd5Recaptures
6. Nxd5Greedy! This springs the trap
Nxd5Counter-capture
7. Bxd8Takes the queen — but...
Bb4+Surprise check! The real point
8. Qd2Only move to block
Bxd2+Takes with check again
9. Kxd2Forced recapture
Kxd8Black takes the bishop — net material gain!

Practice the Elephant Trap interactively

Play through the trap move-by-move on an animated board

Open in ChessGrind →

More Chess Traps

Legal's Trap

Italian Game · beginner

Stafford Gambit

Petrov Defense · intermediate

Fried Liver Attack

Italian Game - Two Knights · beginner

Lasker Trap

Queen's Gambit Accepted · intermediate