This trap shows us what can happen if the queen is moved too often and too carelessly in the opening. Here also, black’s other moves do not fit in with his queen’s development to a5 and he pays a heavy price!
[Result "1-0"]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6
{The Chigorin Variation. An interesting line, but many players do not like to impede their c-pawn in queens pawn games. Black can no longer play c6 to support his centre, nor c5 to challenge white’s centre.}
3.cxd5
(3.Nc3 {is more common, to put pressure on d5})
3...Qxd5 4.Nf3 Bf5
(4...e5 5.dxe5 Qxd1+ 6.Kxd1 Bc5 {is stronger and makes use of the knight on c6. Black will probably regain his pawn in the near future, with good play.})
5.Nc3 Qa5$2
{Black plays in similar fashion to the Scandinavian Defence but this is not a good idea here. White, crucially, still has his e-pawn and this pawn may advance to e4 and cause problems for the second player.}
6.Bd2
{One other key difference is that, in the Scandinavian Defence, black often pushes c6 early on to give his queen a flight square on c7. He can’t do that in this position as the knight on c6 blocks the way.}
6...Nf6$2
{Missing white’s winning reply but black’s position is already very awkward.}
7.e4$1
{A fine reply, see the comment to black’s 5th move!}
7...Bg6$2
(7...Bxe4 8.Nxe4 {loses a piece due to the discovered attack on the queen, but this move is even worse!})
8.Nd5$1
{And the queen is trapped!}
1-0
You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
