Source to learn traps without memorizing moves?

Most places that teach traps go like "oh, in this variation of the sicilian defense, on move 9, the opponent plays this..." but this is rarely applicable.
Just like you can learn theory without memorizing moves with just logic of strategy, you can also learn traps by memorizing only the concept. For instance, pick the de Legal's checkmate. A lot of places teach a certain move order for it to happen on the philidor defense, however the only restrictions for it to happen is that you need to have the pieces in place (B and the two Ks), the opponent king must have no escape squares and the opponent knights must not be defending e5 and d5. You don't really need the philidor move order

So I am asking... is there a source (book or youtube channel or whatever) where I can learn traps taught by the main concept instead of relying on by memorizing specific move orders for obscure lines?

Chesstalk on YT.

Traps are not the way to win every game, the idea is, if the positions happen in your games you know how to punish you opponent...

Catching a fish without getting your feet wet

Being good at tactics. Regardless on how you want to find them, you have to make the work. There is no way to avoid the grinding.

Good question.

Maybe try puzzles sorted by theme and do the opening ones?
It's not enough to set them up, but it's a good start. You're gonna see all sort of hanging pieces, pawn forks and common patterns

At some point, it is about memorization. You might not need to memorize precise move order, but you have to know the patterns. Still, you won't reinvent live opening traps prepared for specific lines by high profile theoretician or with the hep of engine or both, so at some point learning some opening theory becomes useful.

For that I also strongly recommend to do the practice lessons here. Lichess has a very good one about the Greek gift, but I've found the checkmate pattern and the Queen and Bishop Mate also helped me greatly visualize what pieces control and how they coordinate each other, which is also useful during the opening, especially playing dynamic opening with potential for traps.

About the Greek Gift, here is super video breaking it down:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez2BdhFsDnE

You shouldn't be wasting all of this on mere "traps."

The closest source I can think off is lichess.org/training/opening

If you do enough of these puzzles, your unconscious mind learns the patterns. Then, when playing a regular game, you will see the "trapping possibilities" without memorizing anything and without calculating.

Just do this:



No theory involved, but you better be good at tactics as #4 mentioned.

BTW GM Pepe' is missing 1Qh3+ mates in TWO as Kg6 Qh7#