Sicilian Defence, Magnus Smith Trap

abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
e7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
c6 black pawn
d6 black pawn
f6 black knight
g6 black pawn
e5 white pawn
c4 white bishop
c3 white knight
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
c2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white king
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
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'"[1] 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).

This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.
  1. ^ Winter, Edward. "The 'Magnus Smith Trap'". Chesshistory.com.