The Lasker Trap
A brilliant pawn sacrifice in the Queen's Gambit Accepted that wins White's queen through a stunning discovered attack.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Professor Archer says: The Lasker Trap is named after Emanuel Lasker, the second World Champion, who understood better than anyone that chess is not just about the best move, but about the most practical move. This trap embodies that philosophy: Black plays an unusual line that is not objectively the best but creates maximum problems for White. Sometimes the best strategy is making your opponent's life as difficult as possible.
What Is the Lasker Trap?
The Lasker Trap arises from the Albin Counter-Gambit in the Queen's Gambit after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5, when Black sacrifices a pawn for active play. After 3. dxe5 d4 4. e3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 dxe3, the critical position is reached.
If White recaptures with 6. Bxb4, Black plays 6...exf2+ 7. Ke2 fxg1=N+!, an extraordinary underpromotion to a knight that gives check and wins material. This is one of the most beautiful tactical motifs in all of opening theory.
The underpromotion is what makes this trap legendary. Promoting to a queen would not work because it would not give check from g1. Only the knight promotion delivers check, forcing the king to move and leaving Black with a decisive material and positional advantage. It is a reminder that underpromotion, while rare, can be devastating when it works.
The Underpromotion Moment
The key position occurs after the pawn reaches f2 with check. When the king moves to e2, the pawn captures on g1, promoting to a knight with check. The king must move again, and Black emerges with a winning material advantage.
This underpromotion is the signature move of the Lasker Trap. A queen promotion would not deliver check from g1, so only the knight works. It is one of the few positions in opening theory where underpromotion is the winning move.
Black to play fxg1=N+! - the knight check wins decisive material.
How White Should Avoid the Trap
White can avoid the Lasker Trap by not playing 6. Bxb4. Instead, 6. fxe3 is safe, recapturing toward the center and maintaining a solid position. White is still a pawn up and has no tactical weaknesses.
Even better, White can sidestep the entire Albin Counter-Gambit with 3. e3 instead of 3. dxe5, entering a different type of position entirely. The Albin is a rare guest at higher levels precisely because White has many safe ways to handle it.
The lesson for White is to be cautious about recaptures that open files toward your king. Taking with the bishop on b4 looked natural but ignored the tactical consequences of the pawn on e3 pushing to f2.
Lasker Trap FAQ
Why does Black promote to a knight instead of a queen?
A queen on g1 would not give check. The knight on g1 delivers check and simultaneously forks the rook on h1. Only the knight promotion creates this winning double attack.
Is the Albin Counter-Gambit a good opening for Black?
It is considered dubious at the highest levels but playable at club level. The Lasker Trap is one of its most appealing features, but relying on a trap is not a long-term opening strategy.
Did Emanuel Lasker actually play this trap?
The trap is attributed to Lasker and reflects his practical approach to chess. Whether he was the first to discover it is debated, but the line bears his name because it exemplifies his style of creating practical difficulties.
Professor Archer says: Study the Lasker Trap not just for the tactic itself, but for the thought process behind it. Lasker asked: what does my opponent expect, and how can I surprise them? That question is worth more than memorising a thousand variations. Chess is a dialogue, and the best conversationalists are those who say something unexpected.
Quick Quiz
In the Lasker Trap, why is fxg1=N+ stronger than fxg1=Q?
- The knight gives check while a queen would not, and Black emerges with a winning advantage (Correct) - Correct. The knight on g1 delivers check to the king on e2, forcing it to move and leaving Black with a decisive material and positional advantage. A queen on g1 would not give check from that square, so White could simply recapture.
- A queen on g1 would be immediately captured - While the queen might be captured, the real reason the knight is better is the check and fork combination. The knight creates a forcing sequence that wins material.
- Knights are more valuable than queens in this position - Knights are never more inherently valuable than queens. The knight promotion is better here specifically because it delivers check with a fork, not because knights are worth more.
- The queen promotion is illegal in this position - Queen promotion is always legal when a pawn reaches the final rank. The knight promotion is simply tactically superior because of the check and fork.