Sicilian Defence, Magnus Smith Trap

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Position after 8.e5!

The Magnus Smith Trap is a chess opening trap in the Sicilian Defence, named after three-time Canadian chess champion Magnus Smith (1869–1934). In an article titled "'The Magnus Smith Trap'" published in his Chess Notes column (hosted at the Chess History Center), chess historian Edward Winter wrote: "We believe that ‘Magnus Smith Trap’ is a misnomer, although in the Sicilian Defence there is a ‘Magnus Smith Variation’ (a very rare instance of a player’s forename and surname being used jointly in openings terminology)."

The trap

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4

This is the Sozin (or Fischer) Variation of the Sicilian Defense. A common response is 6...e6, to make White's bishop on c4 "bite on granite".

6... g6?!

By playing 6...g6?!, Black falls into the trap.

7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. e5! (see diagram)

Black is in a bad way. After 8...Nh5?, Bobby Fischer gives 9.Qf3! e6 (9...d5 10.Nxd5!) 10.g4 Ng7 11.Ne4 Qa5+ (11...d5 12.Nf6+ Ke7 13.Qa3+) 12.Bd2 Qxe5 13.Bc3 and Black's queen is trapped. Preferable alternatives are 8...Ng4 9.e6 f5, and Black eventually managed to draw in Schlechter–Lasker, World Championship (7) 1910 and 8...d5 9.exf6 dxc4 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 11.Bg5 Be6 12.0-0-0+ Ke8, and Black ultimately even won in Rosen–Burn, Paris 1900.
The move Black actually chooses leads to instant disaster.

8... dxe5?? 9. Bxf7+

White wins Black's queen after 9...Kxf7 10.Qxd8.

References

• Hooper, David and Kenneth Whyld (1996). The Oxford Companion to Chess. Oxford University. ISBN 0-19-280049-3.
• Fischer, Bobby and Larry Evans (1969). My 60 Memorable Games. Simon and Schuster. LCCN 68055954.