The Lasker Trap

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Hello chess enthusiasts. I've taken an interest in real chess strategy in the last year or so, having only ever played by the seat of my pants before. Today I was reading about the Albin Countergambit, and how it can lead to the Lasker Trap. What I don't understand is this: the wikipedia entry says that after Black's pawn takes White's g knight and promotes himself into a knight, the King at E2 is in checkmate, but I don't see why the King can't just move out of check, or why the rook can't just take the new knight. In fact it doesn't seem to be a trap at all, just something that makes White sweat a little bit and deprive him of good board position and some good pieces early on in the game. I'm hoping one of you can help me wrap my head around all this.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Blue Emu]

It isn't checkmate, correct... but it's still a winning line for Black. The Knight can't be taken because Black also threatens to win the White Queen with Bg4+.

 

[Richard Cribb]

As a starter, as Blue Emu said, white can't take the knight because he will then lose his queen to the bishop check.
Then the grim reality for white is that his structure is ruined and that his king, being deprived of the right to castle is exposed to a lethal attack, which virtually plays itself. I don't play the Albin and I don't advice my students to do either since a game like this is scary, but I would gladly play black in that Lasker Trap against anybody in the world for a considerable stake.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I see. I was a little confused because I hadn't read fully into the Trap, just the summary of how to start it on that one page.

 

[Riflin'Joe]

As a starter, as Blue Emu said, white can't take the knight because he will then lose his queen to the bishop check.
Then the grim reality for white is that his structure is ruined and that his king, being deprived of the right to castle is exposed to a lethal attack, which virtually plays itself. I don't play the Albin and I don't advice my students to do either since a game like this is scary, but I would gladly play black in that Lasker Trap against anybody in the world for a considerable stake.

Not to mention the fact that White can't win that knight and will simply remain a piece down.

I think you misread the wiki entry - it doesn't say its mate.

 

[Methos]

I attempted the Lasker Trap, but either my opponent knew it, or was smart enough to stay out of it. Since he didn't take the bait, the game ended up turning out worse IMO. It isn't over yet and currently seems rather drawish. Unless I give this a lot of research, I doubt I'll do it again.

 

[Riflin'Joe]

I attempted the Lasker Trap, but either my opponent knew it, or was smart enough to stay out of it. Since he didn't take the bait, the game ended up turning out worse IMO. It isn't over yet and currently seems rather drawish. Unless I give this a lot of research, I doubt I'll do it again.

The Albin's pretty dubious if White knows what he's doing.