Roman's Lab

The following DVD is thoroughly worth investing in ...

I have picked up many ideas from Roman's DVD's ... After all he is a grandmaster and has pioneered some interesting traps for both sides ... This particular DVD contains traps from some of the common openings.

Learning Openings the Easy Way Traps & Novelties
http://www.chesscentral.com/Learning_Openings_the_Easy_Way_Traps_Novelties_p/1817337.htm

Caro-Kann Advanced Variation (Trap#1)

1. e4 c6
2. d4 d5
3. e5 Bf5
4. h4 e6? (Black should really consider h6 or h5 here ... instead they've set themselves up for a cheap Noah's Ark trap)
5. g4 Be4
6. f3
(Black can now play for time with 6 .. Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Qa5 8.Nc3 but if 8 .. Bxc3 9. Bxc3 Black's Queen must retreat and Black's white squared Bishop will fall with 10. fxe4)
6 .. Bxf3 Nxf3 or
6 .. Bg6 h5! (Noah's Ark trap)
7. Bxh5 gxh5

Queens Gambit Declined (Trap#2)

1. d4 d5
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. Bg5 Nd7
5. Nf3 Bb4
6. Bxf6 Nxf6? (when Black plays Nd7 they often do it to protect the Knight on f6 - but this doesn't work here ... )
7. Qa4+ (wins Bishop on b4 - White should win now)

Queens Gambit Declined (Trap#1)

1. d4 d5
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. Bg5 Nd7
5. cxd5 exd5!
6. Nxd5 (White thinks they've won a pawn ... )
.. Nxd5 (This will win a piece for Black)
7. Bxd8 Bb4+
8. Qd2 (this is the only move ... )
.. Bxd2
9. Kxd2 Kxd8 & Black should have comfortable game with the extra piece.

Closed Sicillian (Trap#1)

1. e4 c5
2. c3 d6
3. d4 cxd4
4. cxd4 Nc6
5. Nf3 Bg4?
6. d5 Ne4
7. Nxe4 (White wins a piece here ...)
.. Bxd1
8. Bb5+ Qd7
9. Nxd7 Bg4
10. Nxf8+ Kxf8
11. O-O & White will win with the extra piece. Black cannot castle and will experience difficulties developing the Castle on h8.

Queens Gambit Accepted (Trap#1)

1. d4 d5
2. c4 cxd4
3. e3 b5
4. a4! c6? (greedily defending the pawn)
5. axb5 cxb5?
6. Qf3 (wins Rook on a8 because neither Knight or Bishop can intervene - and the Black Queen cannot offer help .... )