Chess Traps #4: Queen's Gambit Declined Elephant Trap

[ayarportugal]

Very good video, the explanations are very clear and straight to the point. Definitely my favorite chess vlogger!

[jtolson66]

What is black puts its black bishop to E7? or is that nooby :/

[SuperBekend]

@jtolson66 I'd watch the whole video xD

[AznAndy562]

why doesnt black take the gambit pawn?

[johnqwertyful]

@AznAndy562

Because this is queen's gambit DECLINED

[D3ADR1GHT]

Awesome! I will probably watch a lot more of these to learn =0

Really good strategy

[MasteSheikh]

lol when it started, I was like whoa too fast too fast

[frugalchubbykins]

Checkmate! Nicely done TheFearUnlimited

[TheFearUnlimited]

@tedwilli9 Obviously, that's why you're watching this video right?

[jakefreakinclark]

what is the "engine" that gets talked about? Is it something you can plug the moves into?

[kingfrenzy]

@jakefreakinclark I'm not sure of the names of any, but yea it's just software or even a whole computer that analyses the possition and calculates who is winning.

[swamiatma]

@jakefreakinclark Chess engines. That's another way to call the chess playing software packages such as Chessmater or Fritz.

[reddude127090]

The second black plays d4, thats almost queens gambit accepted, Rather I do, nf6

[kossossk]

When you say the engin scores there what are you talking about?

[BmaRayCyrus]

haha did just beat a 2000 rating playr whit this tramp. didnt think that was posible.

[reddude127090]

@BmaRayCyrus I don't what kind of person you were playing, but no person with an actual uscf rating of 2000 would ever fall for such a simple attack

[BmaRayCyrus]

@reddude127090 i woudnt think so easer, but he did.

[juice0935]

I just won using the elephant trap.

[sodakal]

I am at 1600 rating and ratio of queen's pawn over king's pawn is 1- 19 .. Is that different on games higher than 1900, or is it just me facing guys that the only opening they are aware of is e5?

[sodakal]

@sodakal e4***

[bumsukify]

@Joe2Be why not?

[Jo2Be]

all your movies are brilliant, but you can't use them against the computer, specially not when set on hard.

[JrCrown]

why not pawn to h6?



[yeagabombs315]

I tried to do this trap against my computer and it just couldn't even move lol

[m0onst9er]

Computers are smart, but humans are not computers.

[fyckthissht]

why not just bring up the h7 pawn against the bishop

[coleone2000]

Nice.

[stevenisserlisfan]

5:50 one tenth of a point is seriously not worth worrying about

[ghero97]

A huge help, thanks!

[MrOttopants]

just reply e3 and it all is stop. I have played this position with the e3 move and white comes out ahead.

[SeedsofJoy]

@MrOttopants Qd2, protects the bishop and stops blacks bishop from coming out.

[goalsavior]

@SeedsofJoy the only thing i would watch out for would be if the bishop could perhaps pin the queen down its a playable move but you still need to be aware that your queen can be lost

[MasterJohnnyX]

u just gave to 192157 people something to be aware of ty you are ruining our rating :P

[goalsavior]

16 jerks dont like the great game of chess

[TheCudlywill]

@goalsavior 17



[Guntherk1]

awesome bro



[MrRcfever]

awsome trap. I love your videos.

[xBlazeNLegendx]

I just learned it and beat someone that same day with it...Love It

[LuxusOhr]

Variationes that have been played by Capa and Lasker cant be bad!

[MrFaraday26]

Great video, I really appreciate this kind of educational videos!

I do not like to criticize, but you are not using engine response in the way you should... In the opening engines are mostly not reliable, and there is no point saying that white has 0.1 advantage. If you a=understand chess, you know what I am talking about. Best regards.

[majorsromo]

extremely informative! Doesn't look like an elephant to me :)

[SuperMariofan1999]

wow....... really u are a good chess master

[StraddleCreekSoap]

Thanx can't wait for the opportunity to try this one!

[MrEmanuel1223]

very nice like the way you explain the opening.....

[MrEmanuel1223]

vey nice like the way you explain the opening.....

[Leutwein]

I saw a lot of your clips and just wanted to say: Thank you very, very much!! :)

Regards from Germany!! :)

[swish1234567890]

why not decline with c6 instead of a centre pawn?

[goldenchocolate]

@swish1234567890 that's another defense called the Slav defense, which many d4 players find to be annoying

[TheflyingBlueM]

@swish1234567890

if black uses c6 then the elephant trap wouldn't work because black's dark-squared bishop can't give check and take queen because it is blocked by the c-pawn.

[ubbecykelkedja]

@TheflyingBlueM I think you might want to re-read what you wrote, because it is flat out wrong. It is physically impossible for a pawn on c6 to block a dark squared bishop.

[MusicalAdrian]

You should use your expertise and videos to help make a much-needed AWESOME chess video game. Focus it on teaching new players REAL fundamentals, not just piece movements. Show all these awesome alternative lines. Make it a story about a kid trying to be best player ev4r or something. Love your vids, man. I really think you could make a fortune, and an awesome chess game!

[hawk1sr]

what is the point of knight to D7?

[HolyHolcomb]

I had to look at the board again to see the advantage that Black might have as a result of executing the Elephant Trap. With the white queen off of the table the two knights ought to be able to do some real damage to the white camp.

[audiofiel]

cool. I will try this anyway as a black player, because if the white player does not fall for the trap there is a sound plan B

[hess6wi]

I play Queen's Gambit as white quite a bit. Probably my favourite opening. Good to know about this trap! Didn't know about it and haven't been caught by it as I would not normally play 4.Bg5. I'd prefer 4. cxd4 or 4. Nf3 (Don't play 1d4 d5 as black I find Keres defence, Benoni, King's Indian and Modern defence much better)

[verified2]

ive been the instigator of this trap :D

[J3ofHearts]

You're awesome!

I love the queen's gambit and this helped me along with your other videos.

I subbed ;)

[NaturalEnquirer]

What engines do you use to figure positional advantage?

[Simenter13]

interesting, but why do you explain everything two times?

[Gardash111]

@Simenter13 Why do you even bother? Go make your own vid then.

[Simenter13]

@Gardash111 I didn't want to bother you, it just should be a proposal to improve your next video.

[Medicalcure]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nd7 a veces (sometimes) 5. cxd exd

si captura (if white takes the pieces)

6. Nxd5 Bxd8 7. Bb4+ Qd2 8. Bxd2 kxd2 9. kxd8 y blancas ganan calidad (and black wins a bishop or kight)

[klloyd0833]

in that elephant trap.. if you look on the end game.. still the white is advantage.. the next white move is e4.. the knight will only run.. and where he runs the pawn will chase it.. and establish a good position.. and when the knight goes to f6.. the bishop or the pawn on f3 will just protect the e4 pawn.. just what i think.. can you elaborate more..

[RyuLoki]

"If white were think a few more move ahead..." Ya know, that line reminded me of a figure I heard once: An average to good chess player can think 2-3 moves ahead, where as a Grandmaster thinks up to 20 moves ahead.

I really enjoyed this video specifically, since it gave me a very good idea of HOW to think more than 5 moves ahead.

[Musician0296]

ive been the victim of this trap :(

[hidehipk]

Such an easy trap....when u know how!

[MrZingnigga]

praevenire dutch lines are sharper and have higher win/loss rates. with qgd black has very good drawing chances. if you are more of an attacking player, avoid symmetrical openings. you might find the grunfeld or nimzo-indian better than the dutch though.

[praevenire]

Am I better in regards to the queens gambit lines and d4 openings playing a declined line like this or playing something like the Dutch defence? (I prefer offensive play)

[MrSoccaable]

what would you do if white moves knight to f3 instead of knight to c3?

[beatcm9k]

It's nice to know traps, but NEVER set a trap if you don't know what to do afterward possitionally... if your opponent doesn't fall for the trap! You are a good teacher, but would be a much better teacher if you explored just as much of the line if they don't fall for the trap as you do when they do fall for it!

[midgety1]

Thanks

[21ishy21]

I love you accent :)

[magicpillow25]

you rock the trap helped me alot.

[TheSgtslaughter1]

what if pond on b2 moves when the night should

[baeronautics]

good video but i dont see the need for putting the night on d7



[ModderXtr]

What if they play 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 ?

Is it worth it, or possible, to still try and go for this trap?

[notmtwain]

@ModderXtr The trap depends on white trying to win the pawn on d5. With the knight on f3 instead of c3, white only attacks the pawn once. Since it is defended once, there is no trap to fall into. Nf3 is a perfectly good move. It just doesn't help set this particular trap.

[blastoff0101010]

J thx for putting these videos here, its nice to live in the days of jus watching and listening instead of studying a book for hours not knowing if what u are studying is helpful. I must come across queens gambit every game almost as black and totally forgot about this trap. keep up the good work

[dudethatssofake]

when white moves down the bishop to g5 at 1:26 why doesnt black just move up h7 pawn to h6? im a beginner at this and only play for fun so excuse me if its a dumb question.

[GamePerFrame]

i LOVE this trap xD

[Alberturkey]

Cool, thanks

[MrCerialKiller]

instant sub :)

[extrafresh96]

Martin aige dåkke i sjakk!

[amcbirds]

wow i liked it!!!

[slikdarelic]

funny how Ive never seen this trap, yet at least 3 guys i know use this opening... lol.. cant wait ta get to work... thx

da relic

[dontdodrugs666]

what if black plays pawn H7 to H6 and challenges the bishop?, i would normaly get that and what i would do is move bishop from G5 to H4, any other tips?.

[mr7UICY]

Subscribed

[cgy12telus]

@mr7UICY Sub'd.

[Breakz]

@mr7UICY i reckon girls get a bit wet watching a blitz game... amirite? XD

[mr7UICY]

@Breakz LOL

[ha3xown5ed]

Wow, Thanks!

Will definetly help in my Chess Club. Thank You

[TheUltimateGamers101]

@ha3xown5ed Mine too, thanks Jrobi!

[F2L4Life]

I like to play the semi-slav and the baltic defense against the queen pawn. (Although the baltic defense can be completely refuted I can transpose into a slav-like position with a developed light-square bishop)

[pedronetomoreira]

The orthodox line is a VERY strong defence, that can give rise to the Lasker, the Capablanca and the Tartakower-Makogonov-Bondarevs­ky lines, and has been used by several world champions. Actually the Cambrige Springs is a bit inferior. Forget the computer lines!

:-)

[CaraBrimleyRules]

Why should we believe you and not jrobi as you've shown no evidence of detailed chess study, and simply made a statement. Capablanca, genius though he was in his time, would be roundly thrashed by the modern computer engines.

[pedronetomoreira]

For starters jrobi gives no real assesment of this position, just a couple of traps. The orthodox has very few traps. For instance, the main line of the orthodox is 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 c6 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. O-O e5 (there are of course other replies for white but this is just an example), and black is solid. Computers cannot assess openings properly, most GMs play 1.e3 and 2. d3 and 3. g3 against computers and often win.

[Res3nt]

11..e5? is not the main line. Giving away a pawn for no compensation couldnt be called "solid"

[pedronetomoreira]

I missed a move.

11...Nxc3 12. Rxc3 e5.

Solid, yet drawish.

[pedronetomoreira]

Also I don't believe that Capablanca would lose so easily ;-)

[CaraBrimleyRules]

Jrobi is probably using Rybka or one of the better ones that play at elo 3000+ Either way Capablanca would be TOASTED by a 3000+ engine even more than he was TRASHED by Alekhine in 1927. Capa would probably be down like 10-1 against a 3000+ engine.

In any case I trust Jrobi more than you on this one, as he has produced many videos with solid analyses. Whereas you have just put forward a few soundbites with little evidence of your own authority.

[pedronetomoreira]

Was just sharing my own opinion. No need to be defensive as you are. Just keep your bycicle. No need for you to be a little bitch.

[CaraBrimleyRules]

Fair enough, I was just sharing mine too. You have obviously lost the argument, because you resort to personal attacks which I haven't stooped to.

All I said was that the evidence before me shows Jrobi to be a better authority than yourself, and I don't believe Capa could cope against modern computer play or analysis.

Both of which I think are reasonable arguments, whereas your personal attacks simply show you have lost it. Therefore checkmate to me!

[pedronetomoreira]

I couldn't care LESS about what you think!

[elmuradiablo]

@CaraBrimleyRules I'm with pedronetomoreira on this one.

First, Alekhine won the match 6-3; 34 games were played (25 draws) and capa won 2 of them. Also this was the longest match in the history of chess at the time. He was hardly "TRASHED"!

But it was you who brought Capablanca in the first place. The above line refers to the "Capablanca freeing manoeuvre", that's what he/she was talking about, not about "Capablanca the player".

[elmuradiablo]

@CaraBrimleyRules (continued) Regarding computers, my Fritz suggests 1.Nc3 as the best first move! Is that what YOU play?

And, above all, I tend to regard you attitude as "slighty" hostile, just look at your channel --- you argue with everyone! That's definitely NOT cool.

So, checkmate NOT for you!

[CaraBrimleyRules]

@elmuradiablo Sorry I've already won the argument on this one, you're too late, LOL!

[pedronetomoreira]

Also, if you don't want to believe simply DON'T!!!

[jrobichess]

The Springs line tends to have a higher success rate compared to the orthodox from modern databases, however, both are playable. As I said in the video though, a person might as well play the strongest option given a choice. But it should be said that both create different types of positions, and a person might be more comfortable with the positions that arise from the Orthodox. That becomes a matter of personal preference.

[hostilebelligerent]

@jrobichess of course it has a higher success rate if you include all the 1200 rated players falling for the trap lol.

[GarzaHector9]

@pedronetomoreira hey man i read ur comment and i got curiosity of what you said, which is the tartakower-makogonov-bondarevs­ky lines? plz respond,

[21stCenturyRebel]

Why the hell would white wanna play c4xd5 at that stage....... I mean COME ON...

[melkor321]

since white would end up with one extra pawn that can potentially be placed in the center. Controlling the center is an advantage.

[21stCenturyRebel]

No that doesn't do anything for White at this stage, it's too early to start attacking d5. A much better move would be e4, that really gives White the centre, and this whole trap thingy from Black falls apart too, because White would eventually end up with a Knight on d2, protecting the King, and making it possible for White to start developing his pieces from King's side, castle, and than attack Black with a very strong rook-queen-knight combination. I would kick his butt in this situation! :-)

[pedronetomoreira]

Yes, I agree with you.

The Springs is a sharper opening, and has a lot of traps. but against proper play by White, it's just like every other lines. I actually prefer the Orthodox defence, because I find it easier to free the white square bishop than with the Springs. Also, it is quieter.

[dkappy18]

Why Nd7? Why not Nc6... wouldn't that allow for the same trap but with the additional advantage of having the knight available to capture the bishop at the end of the line, thereby retaining blacks ability to castle? what am i missing?

[mattiassollerman]

Because if your opponent doesnt fall for the trap then Nc6 may not be as good as Nd7. On c6 it blocks in the c-pawn and doesnt support the f6 knight. The knight belongs on d7 in almost all variations of Queens Gambit Declined. Hope that answered your question. =)

[StefanCroft]

Nc6 doesn't set the trap. Nd7 blocks the queen's access to d5, which is what makes white liable to attack it. Plus, if black plays Nc6, white can trade his bishop for the f6 knight, and either force doubled pawns on black or wins a pawn:

4...Nd6? 5. Bxf6 gxf6 (5... Qxf6 6. cxd exd 7. Nxd5 and black is down a pawn and cannot initiate the trap check due to the d5 knight's protection of b4)

[Yaroslav94]

what is this program?

[andyl1988]

@Yaroslav94

I'm fairly sure Jrobi uses Rybka, the most recent version.

[Ironwullf]

As an amateur player, obviously playing against other amateur players, I rarely see "standard" moves being played. Just curious how a more experienced player would play against more amateur (unorthodox) moves on the board. Thank you.

[poprockssuck87]

Unorthodox moves often have their drawbacks. You'd have to be slightly more specific in order for anyone to tell much of anything. Find the weakness and take advantage of them.

A good example is when someone plays 2. Bc4 in the sicilian defense as white. It's pretty unorthodox because it often gives black the center and white loses time moving his bishop around. But that doesn't mean that I haven't lost against that opening. I've just learned how to play against it and reach equality quickly.

[SonicFox435]

your a good chess player

[scath7]

this is amazing. In fact it's the video that has finally gotten me to subscribe lol

[eyshaney]

OOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! that's sick

[10vaan]

semi slav* = cambridge spring?

[10vaan]

can this be considered the semi sla as well?

[question227]

this is an awsome trap!

[LadyKnight219]

thanks for posting this i actually won 3 blitz games with this trap

[TheChessAmature]

+after watching a few more of your videos ill have to change my username

[tolkien11]

Wow! As white i love playing queen's gambit. I wasn't aware of this trap. Thanks a lot!

[ultimateichigo]

What if white doesn't take on d5??

[MechoPyh]

What if I´m an elephant. xD

[rebelsouljaz]

ur d.e.d. ded!

[Omeeeeed]

Thz

[b1kuje43]

not worth it...

[cs304]

beautiful moves dude

[YeaFigga]

i bet i could beat you

[Roxz80]

Arrogance: Loses out to reality.

[nishuonly]

wow !!

[dekulewan]

awesome thanks to ur videos i now know how to block both gambits :) (he also has a kings gambit declined vid)

[laponia2000]

if at 1.24 (or generally in this opening)white plays pawn to c5 (instead of bishop to g5), can anyone suggest the best or posible answers for black there?

[barragehat]

ty for the great vids!

[gracee93]

thanks man...that move made me a CHAMPION

[bizyvisat]

if black plays f8-e7 or the orthodox defence there r chances of white to go for torre's attack or trap in that whites plays queen at a4 forcing black to castle & then attack with pawn at d5 untill the 4th rank is open then placing queen at H4 the only way to prevent it is placing pawn at h7.

[nicki249]

you can't castle when the king's under attack -.-

[samurai20001]

nice ,never thought of that

[MrDan1066]

Very good

[chafre5]

great..u got me hook on chess now....

[fastr1337]

russian trap. slon means elephant, and bishop in russian

[zorac91]

lol, I was thinking "damn wtf he just lost his queen in a very aweful way", but it was just for the trap to work. I loved it

[Phelps124]

u are great posting these videos

thanks

[godlydrmr]

Sneaky

[pertz08]

i Love this strategy.. ^.^

[Ruxistico]

technically... this is a tactic and not a strategy... I know Im a bone-head for saying so, but you know...

[xeeen0]

You've got to love ancient strategy....

[danpt2000]

Neither white nor black can castle after this sequence. But black has more peice development.

[masterrog1]

awesome!

[zUchihaCloudz]

Why is ND7 necessary?

[AFG007KING]

if no ....Nd7 then the pawn on d5 is protected by queen so he is not gona go for trap and tak Nc3xd5

[LetMeOwnYou69]

it sets the trap, blocks the queen from defending the pawn, giving the illusion to white that it's an easy capture for material advantage

[Bobby5k]

I love the website jrobi, keep up the good work. How about sticking up a few more Queens Gambit videos ?

Cheers, Bob fae Edinburgh

[app2jwd]

Why is it called the 'Elephant Trap'?

[TheGK2009]

Because the Bishop is used to be Called Elephant in the original Chess Game.

I hope this helps

[KingE20]

amazing

[eiroight]

very nice trap

[kiss904]

gary kasparov invented this

[jeerboybones]

thanks.................. nice tips....