Queen's Gambit Declined - Elephant Gambit

https://lichess.org/study/x0qdtoaq/rpXXWotb For your reference

Introduction to the Opening

The Queen's Gambit Declined/QGD is a popular defense by black that has a solid reputation with good win rates. This particular trap happens in the exchange variation, specifically after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5.

Setting the Trap

While there are many moves for black after this, such as c6, Be7, Bd6, etc. here black plays the move 5...Nbd7.

While this may seem like a normal developing move, there seems to be a problem. The knight on f6 is pinned and the Queen's connection with the d5 pawn is broken. So isn't Nxd5 just a free pawn?

Falling for the Trap

White ignorantly takes on d5 and is happy as he has won a key central pawn. That's when you as black will play the shocker 5...Nxd5!!.
Wait, that just hangs a queen, does it not? And so white goes forth and takes the queen on d8, clueless about what is going to happen next. Because if white plays Bxd8, you will respond with....(wait for it)...... Bb4+! And amazingly white has only one way to get out of check and that is to play Qd2.
Then you will simply play Bxd2+, and after Kxd2 you will play Kxd8, picking up the loose bishop, and at the end of the line you emerge with an extra piece for a pawn with excellent winning chances. The computer evaluates this as -3, a winning advantage for Black.

What if white doesn't fall for the trap?

Now, instead of Nxd5 white is advised to play e3, after which you will play c6, defending your pawn and develop as normal.
The game is well in the balance here. The good thing about the trap is there is nothing to lose --- if white falls for it you will win a piece and the game, but otherwise you will still have a solid position coming into the middlegame.

Conclusion

I hope this trap was helpful and I hope you learned something new. Please give a like and stay tuned for more posts regarding more traps like these and other chess tips and strategies to improve your game! Until then, cheers!