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For almost two decades - since issue CBM #113 (August 2006) - Rainer Knaak compiled collections of opening traps from current tournament practice for each new issue of ChessBase Magazine. He usually presented three of the eight to ten traps per issue in video format. Some of his contributions dealt with completely new opening traps, while others provided updates of previous analyses from his column. At the end of 2024, Rainer Knaak handed over his column to Michael Prusikin. The new author not only changes the face of the column, but also the format. In this and future issues, the GM will present three traps from a specific opening area. From the next issue onwards, interactive elements will also be integrated to optimise the learning effect. Michael Prusikin's first article is about traps in the French Advance Variation. In his video lecture, our new author also discusses general strategic ideas in this opening.
The first trap arises on the board after 11.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Nge7 6.Na3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Nf5 8.Nc2 Be7 9.Bd3:
According to the reference search in the Mega Database 2025, the most frequently played continuation by far is 9...0-0 – and this is exactly the move that makes Black fall into the trap! It's worth noting, however, that White only sprung the trap in 17 of the 81 games in the Mega Database 2025 – most of the games continued with the solid but harmless 10.0-0. In contrast, 10.g4! leads to a decisive advantage for White. Not only does the exposed black knight now come under pressure, but the position of Black's king also becomes the target of White's play. Let Michael Prusikin show you how White's trap snaps shut both after 10...Nh4 and 10...Nh6!
The other two traps from Pruskin's article are set with the following move:
Trap 2: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Bd7 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.Bd3 Bb5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.b4
Trap 3: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.Be2 Qb6 7.0–0 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nge7 9.Na3 Nf5 10.Nc2 Be7 11.Bd3!
From the Tata Steel Masters & Challengers 2025 to Robert Ris' training column ‘Move by Move’ and Felix Blohberger's opening video on 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 h6 to Dorian Rogozenco's ‘The Fortress’ to ‘Fundamental Endgame Knowledge’ with Dr Karsten Mueller.
Over 7 hours of video playing time with Felix Blohberger, Surya Ganguly, Daniel King, Jan Markos, Karsten Mueller, Michael Prusikin, Oliver Reeh, Robert Ris and Dorian Rogozenco.
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