Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bb5/3...Nf6/4. d3/4...Ne7/5. Nxe5/5...c6

Mortimer trap
	a b c d e f g h 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 a b c d e f g h
	Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) r1bqkb1r/pp1pnppp/2p2n2/1B2N3/4P3/3P4/PPP2PPP/RNBQK2R
	Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Ne7 5. Nxe5 c6
	ECO code: C65
	Parent: Spanish game → Anti-Berlin → Mortimer variation

5...c6 · Mortimer trap

Black kicks White's bishop, gaining tempo while opening a line for their queen reach a5.

White has fallen into the Mortimer trap. After 6. Bc4? or 6. Ba4?, 6...Qa5+! 7. Nc3 and Black picks up the knight.

White has some tricky moves of their own, but if Black avoids their traps then they are strictly ahead here.

6. Nc4?!, leaving the bishop to hang, sets Black up for the blunder 6...cxb5?? 7. Nd6#, and Black's king is smothered. Giving the king some space with 6...d6 (Black still wins a minor piece after 7. Ba4 b5!) or 6...d5 is better.
The best move for White is 6. Nxf7. White at least gets another pawn for their knight. The knight attacks Black's queen, but 6...Qa5+? 7. Bd2 Qxb5?? 8. Nd6+ forks the king and queen. 6...Kxf7 7. Bc4+ d5 8. Bb3∓. is best. Black is ahead material but loses castling rights.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Ne7 5. Nxe5 c6

Mortimer trap
a b c d e f g h 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) r1bqkb1r/pp1pnppp/2p2n2/1B2N3/4P3/3P4/PPP2PPP/RNBQK2R
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Ne7 5. Nxe5 c6
ECO code: C65
Parent: Spanish game → Anti-Berlin → Mortimer variation