- OpeningAlbin Countergambit
- The mistake6.Bxb4
- The endWins material
The trap
The Albin Countergambit arises after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5. Black gives up the e-pawn, and after 3.dxe5 d4 a black pawn stands deep in White's position.
With 4.e3 White wants to get rid of the pawn at once. Black answers 4…Bb4+ 5.Bd2 dxe3! and leaves the bishop to be taken.
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. e3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 dxe3 6. Bxb4 exf2+ 7. Ke2 fxg1=N+ 8. Ke1 Qh4+ 9. Kd2 Nc6
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Why it's easy to fall for
The bishop on b4 looks free. White can surely take the pawn on e3 later, the thinking goes, and after 6.Bxb4 White is a whole piece up.
But the pawn can't be stopped. It captures on f2 with check, and when the king steps aside it captures the knight on g1 and becomes a new piece. It has to become a knight, not a queen, because a knight on g1 gives check. Then White never gets time to trade queens, and taking the knight costs the queen.
What White should have played
Play 6.fxe3 and take back the pawn. The position becomes about equal, and White is in no danger.
Simpler still is never to play 4.e3. The usual move is 4.Nf3, which develops the knight and guards against most things.
6. fxe3
Right. White takes back the pawn and leaves the bishop on b4 alone. The position is about equal.
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How it ends
Black wins material and gets an attack on the king. After 9…Nc6 Black is a piece up, and White's king is still in the middle of the board.
How often does it happen?
In 192,581 games between club players, the position before 6.Bxb4 came up. In 69,762 of them (36%), White played 6.Bxb4. Black won 90% of those games.
In 30,921 games between strong players, the position before 6.Bxb4 came up. In 8,399 of them (27%), White played 6.Bxb4. Black won 92% of those games.
Move by move: club players
| Move | Games in the position | Played the move | Then White won | Draw | Black won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.e3 | 2,925,459 | 287,379 (10%) | 36% | 4% | 59% |
| 4…Bb4+ | 287,303 | 221,502 (77%) | 33% | 4% | 63% |
| 5.Bd2 | 221,368 | 201,255 (91%) | 32% | 4% | 64% |
| 5…dxe3 | 201,223 | 192,680 (96%) | 31% | 4% | 65% |
| 6.Bxb4 the mistake | 192,581 | 69,762 (36%) | 9% | 1% | 90% |
Move by move: strong players
| Move | Games in the position | Played the move | Then White won | Draw | Black won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.e3 | 925,476 | 46,152 (5%) | 37% | 6% | 57% |
| 4…Bb4+ | 46,142 | 35,140 (76%) | 34% | 5% | 61% |
| 5.Bd2 | 35,121 | 31,817 (91%) | 33% | 5% | 62% |
| 5…dxe3 | 31,809 | 30,934 (97%) | 32% | 5% | 62% |
| 6.Bxb4 the mistake | 30,921 | 8,399 (27%) | 7% | 1% | 92% |
"Played the move": of the games in the position, how many continued with the move of the trap line; then how those games ended. A position missing from the table is too rare for our numbers. Source: games on Lichess in blitz, rapid and classical, fetched 6 and 7 November 2026. Club players means games where the players average 1600 or more, strong players games where they average 2000 or more.
Explore the position on the analysis board: the moves club players choose here and how the games tend to end.
Try it
White has just taken the bishop with 6.Bxb4. Black to move: let the pawn run all the way!
Your opponent moves…
The history
The Albin Countergambit is named after Adolf Albin, who played it against Emanuel Lasker in New York in 1893. It had already been played in 1881, by Cavallotti against Salvioli in Milan.
The trap carries Lasker's name, but according to The Oxford Companion to Chess it was first pointed out by the Italian Serafino Dubois. Why it ended up with Lasker's name, the sources we have read don't say.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Lasker Trap?
A trap in the Albin Countergambit. After 4.e3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 dxe3 White takes the bishop with 6.Bxb4, and Black's pawn captures on f2 and g1 and becomes a knight with check. Black wins material and gets a strong attack.
Why does the pawn become a knight and not a queen?
Because the knight on g1 gives check. Then White has no time to take Black's queen on d8, and Black keeps the initiative. If the pawn becomes a queen, White trades queens with check and is fine.
How does White avoid the Lasker Trap?
By taking back with 6.fxe3 instead of taking the bishop, or by playing 4.Nf3 instead of 4.e3.
Every move on this page has been checked against the rules of chess, and every judgement of who stands better has been checked with a chess computer.
Updated November 14, 2026
5… dxe3
Black leaves the bishop on b4 hanging and captures on e3 instead.