Trap · played as Black

Caro-Kann: Panov: the ...Bb4 Pin

In the Panov, 6...Bb4 pins the Nc3; White's natural 7.b3?? leaves the knight undefended, and 7...Bxc3+ 8.Bd2 Bxa1 wins knight and rook for the bishop.

A position this opening is aiming for.

You play
Black
Variations covered
11
What it wins
Wins the queen

The main line

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Bb4 7.b3 Bxc3+ 8.Bd2 Bxa1

How the trap springs

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Bb4 7.b3 Bxc3+ 8.Ke2 Bxa1

Traps are only worth knowing if somebody actually falls into them, so each one here was checked against what club players really play, not only against what an engine would.

Some of the variations

…and 5 more in the trainer.

Train it

ChessReflex drills the branch points where a line splits rather than making you replay it move by move, so a repertoire this size is a handful of decisions instead of hundreds of moves. Free, and no account needed to start.

Open Caro-Kann: Panov: the ...Bb4 Pin