Today I will share with you the 5 best chess opening traps in the Center Game. The Center Game is a chess opening after the moves 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4, and after 3.Qxd4 Nc6, it pretty much looks like the Scandinavian Defense in reverse.

Center Game – 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6

The best part is that I am going to share with you the traps for both sides, White and Black. 😊 You can use and implement these traps in your practical games easily. Moreover, you are not only going to see these beautiful games, which are really amazing, but also you will be able to train your tactical vision along the way; I will show you how you can find such beautiful tactical shots.

I would also like to make an additional note – even though the Center Game is not a very powerful chess opening, you can use it from time to time, especially in your blitz games. There are a lot of chances one could fall into these traps!

Trap-1: Bronstein vs NN

1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qa4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d5 6.Bg5 dxe4 7.Nxe4

Black to play

7…Qe7 8.O-O-O White finalized his development and had a very specific tactical shot in mind; can you find what happens if Black plays 8…Qxe4 

Trap-2: Rudolf L’Hermet vs Hagemann

1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 Bb4+ 5.c3 Ba5 6.Bc4 Nge7 7.Qg3 O-O 8.h4 White is preparing to kick away the potential defender, Ng6, so that he can continue his attack actively with Bh6. 8…Ng6

White to play

9.h5 Nge5 Can you find the winning continuation for White?

Trap-3: Jonathan Subervi vs Jose Manuel Dominguez

1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 Be7 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Bd2 d5 7.exd5 Nb4 8.O-O-O Nfxd5 9.Nxd5 Nxa2+

White to play

10.Kb1 Qxd5 How should White continue here? Remember, he is down a pawn.

Trap-4: Muller vs Leonhardt

1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 Nf6 5.Bc4 Ne5 6.Bb3 Bb4+ 7.c3

Black to play

White is trying to kick away the Black’s bishop. What will you play here?

Trap-5: If White takes the knight with exf6

1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 Bb4+ 5.c3 Ba5 6.Bc4 Nf6

White to play

7.e5 How would you play here as Black?

You can watch the video of these traps below:
 

 
And you can download the PGN of all these 5 traps below:

You may also like:

• 7 Best Chess Opening Traps
• Bonus 3 Traps (FREE course) + Top 10 shocking opening losses by World Champions
• 3 best chess traps you should know!
• Best chess openings and how to pick one for you [Infographic]

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