Weirdly specific chess question.

[Mystic Muse]

I know there are terms for different types of trap moves in chess. I'm looking for the name of one for a story I'm writing (if it even exists that is), where it looks like you're moving yourself into a strong position, but you've actually set yourself up for checkmate by the opponent's queen. Does something like this even exist? My google-fu is weak.

[golentan]

I know there are terms for different types of trap moves in chess. I'm looking for the name of one for a story I'm writing (if it even exists that is), where it looks like you're moving yourself into a strong position, but you've actually set yourself up for checkmate by the opponent's queen. Does something like this even exist? My google-fu is weak.

Are you thinking of "Fool's Mate?"

[tiornys]

I believe the term you're looking for is either helpmate (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helpmate) or "game ending blunder".

[golentan]

I believe the term you're looking for is either helpmate (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helpmate) or "game ending blunder".

That sounds right.

[Mystic Muse]

Thanks a lot guys. :smallsmile:

[Chen]

I believe the term you're looking for is either helpmate (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helpmate) or "game ending blunder".

I don't think Helpmate applies. That seems to be reserved for cooperative chess problems, rather than something in a game. A situation where a player makes a mistake on his own can be considered a "trap". If the other player set them up you can consider it a "pitfall". Those are terms I seem to recall from an old Horowitz chess puzzle book I had. Blunder works too if its just a plain mistake.