Tarrasch Defense traps: the most-played mistakes
2 mistakes actually played in the Tarrasch Defense, each verified by the engine: the position is playable before, the punishment wins material, and the player share comes from real Lichess games.
Method: Stockfish screening (depth 14 then 22), refutation = best engine moves. Frequencies: real Lichess games 1400-2200+, blitz, rapid and classical. Whatever failed verification is not published.
- Nb5 ?13.6% of players12,807 games
Nb5 concedes about 3.2 pawn. Qa5+ immediately exploits the mistake: Qa5+ gives check. Precise line: Qa5+ Bd2 Qxb5 b4.
Punishment: Qa5+ Bd2 Qxb5 e4 Qc6
+3 points of material, evaluation 2.9 after the punishment.
- Nb5 ?14.9% of players6,181 games
Nb5 concedes about 3.5 pawn. Qa5+ immediately exploits the mistake: Qa5+ gives check. Precise line: Qa5+ Bd2 Qxb5 b4.
Punishment: Qa5+ Bd2 Qxb5 b4 a5
+3 points of material, evaluation 2.7 after the punishment.