Don't get into this fork-trap!

Hello, chess players!

Today I would like to share a chess position, which happens quit often at beginner’s and intermediate levels. If you are a skilled player you may find this situation not relevant, but even knowing about this trap I sometimes forget and blunder right into it 😝

It all starts with tension between knights and bishops in the center of the board.

White decides to take blacks central knight with its own. White expects trade of the bishops to follow. After bishops trade, blacks central pawn would lose control of the center and would damage it’s own structure.

But… this white’s plan falls apart if black takes with central pawn right away. Whites gets forked and has to take or move away one of the pieces. But in the end white loses 3 points of material.

White in this situation should keep the tension and improve position with other pieces or castling, because every piece is defended.

At the moment I am playing a lot of 3 min blitz and I am 1100 Elo at chess.com and these situation happens very often. If you are not high rated and play quick games with time pressure there is a high chance to trick your opponent into this fork.

If you will get into this position, doesn’t matter which color you play, hope you will remember this and won’t lose your knight or bishop! Best of luck in your chess games! 😊