How to Successfully Set Traps and Decoys (and Avoiding Them Yourself)

Hi! This is FM Viktor Neustroev.

You know, it’s a real pleasure to get your opponent trapped into an opening (that you prepared well) or just create a trap during the game and enjoy the moment your opponent makes a move and gets into a trap.

I’m sure every chess player wants it. But do you know how to set traps successfully? What to keep in mind and how to increase the chance that an opponent will fall into the trap?

And the same time how to avoid traps yourself? What steps to follow to be able to recognize them until it’s too late to do anything?

This is what my students always ask and this what I’m going to explain in this video “How to Successfully set traps and decoys (and avoiding them yourself)”. Watch this video to the very end and you will learn how to increase the quality of your traps and how to not get trapped.

How to set traps successfully?

Good question. But before I show you an example and explain, I want you to remember that by setting a trap you automatically assume that your opponent won’t get trapped. It means that you should create such a trap that you position should be still good even if your opponent doesn’t get trapped. If he is trapped, you can gain something or even get a winning position, but if he doesn’t, your position still should be fine. In other words, the moves that you played to be able to create a trap shouldn’t drift into a bad position for you!

The other thing you should remember is that you should mask your threat. It should be a well-hidden trap. For example, you make a move that has at least 2 ideas behind. One is obvious that your opponent can recognize it. But at the same time not very obvious. And the other one is a hidden idea (usually even stronger than the first one).

How to avoid traps!

The first and the main principle that you should follow to avoid traps is always try to understand the logic behind opponent’s moves. Every time he plays a move you should ask yourself: What does he want to do with this move? What is his plan? If you can’t answer immediately, spend more time on it. And imagine that it’s you playing with the enemy pieces. And now ask yourself: Why would I play this move? What for?

If you can successfully unravel the enemy plan, you do the main thing! However, the second principle is to anticipate your opponent’s next move before you make your own move. Before your make the move on the board ask yourself what your opponent’s natural response can be. Again, if you can’t answer this question, ask yourself “What would I do if I were him in respond to the move I’m going to play right now?

Best Regards,

FM Victor Neustroev