user16194: A lot of times I used to play trap games in chess; most of the times I won the game. But the my question is this: is it good strategy to play a trap game when facing a rated chess player?

user14760: In my experience I feel the only way that I can play a 'ranked'(assuming considerable higher rating) than myself is to play wild, attacking lines in the hopes of trapping them to victory(assuming that is what you mean by 'trap games').  I usually tie this in with the term I've read, "hope chess".  Hoping your opponent doesn't see what you are trying to do for a win without having a plan when it fails.
Using positional strategy the ranked player is simply going to be beat me.  There's a reason they are ranked.  They have the understanding, knowledge and experience I have not obtained yet.  When I start getting around the 100 pt. rating difference and I'm on the low end I've only got about a 30% chance of winning so I'm putting my money on the wild, attacking games in the hopes of trapping them for a win by them blundering.
While I do believe the best way to get better is to play people who are better than you, I don't necessarily believe this is a good long term strategy with playing like this.  I would always bet a ranked player is going to see the traps more often than not and I would be concerned the position would be lost after the trap fails.

user9030: Playing traps is never a good plan if you want to improve yourself. It won't help you to improve your skills. Also experienced players won't buy it.

user3079: I am not fond of opening traps. If an opening you like to play happens to have a trap in it, that's fine; by all means exploit the trap. What I don't like is going out of one's way to learn a variation just because it has a trap in it. For example, the Queen's Gambit Accepted with 3.e3 has this well known trap:
[fen ""]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 b5 4.a4 c6 5.axb5 cxb5 6.Qf3

...and now black's only option to save his rook is to give up his knight. It's a lovely little trap, and if you like 3.e3 no matter how black responds, then by all means you should learn the trap. But you shouldn't play 3.e3 just because you hope your opponent falls for the trap; I personally prefer 3.e4 to try to grab the center, but that's just my personal preference.
I don't like winning via an opening trap because there isn't really any skill involved other than memorization. If you start winning a large portion of your games through opening traps, your rating will go up... and then you will face opponents who know your traps and you won't know how to beat them, because you didn't learn any actual skills on the way up.
Trying to draw or even win a lost game with a swindle is a different matter. I occasionally do this, and it's fun when it works (though your opponent will have a different opinion!), but I only do this if I would otherwise resign.

user70: I will assume that a "trap game" is an opening that contains a devastating trap if your opponent plays the wrong move.
What happens if your opponent does not fall for the trap? As long as you can still have a good game, it's ok to play a trap game.

16194: <p>A lot of times I used to play trap games in chess; most of the times I won the game. But the my question is this: is it good strategy to play a trap game when facing a rated chess player?</p>
 14760: <p>In my experience I feel the only way that I can play a 'ranked'(assuming considerable higher rating) than myself is to play wild, attacking lines in the hopes of trapping them to victory(assuming that is what you mean by 'trap games').  I usually tie this in with the term I've read, <strong><em>"hope chess"</em></strong>.  Hoping your opponent doesn't see what you are trying to do for a win without having a plan when it fails.</p>

<p>Using positional strategy the ranked player is simply going to be beat me.  There's a reason they are ranked.  They have the understanding, knowledge and experience I have not obtained yet.  When I start getting around the 100 pt. rating difference and I'm on the low end I've only got about a 30% chance of winning so I'm putting my money on the wild, attacking games in the hopes of trapping them for a win by them blundering.</p>

<p><strong><em>While I do believe the best way to get better is to play people who are better than you</em></strong>, I don't necessarily believe this is a good long term strategy with playing like this.  I would always bet a ranked player is going to see the traps more often than not and I would be concerned the position would be lost after the trap fails.</p>
 9030: <p>Playing traps is never a good plan if you want to improve yourself. It won't help you to improve your skills. Also experienced players won't buy it.</p>
 3079: <p>I am not fond of opening traps. If an opening you like to play happens to have a trap in it, that's fine; by all means exploit the trap. What I don't like is going out of one's way to learn a variation just because it has a trap in it. For example, the Queen's Gambit Accepted with 3.e3 has this well known trap:</p>

<pre><code>[fen ""]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 b5 4.a4 c6 5.axb5 cxb5 6.Qf3
</code></pre>

<p>...and now black's only option to save his rook is to give up his knight. It's a lovely little trap, and if you like 3.e3 no matter how black responds, then by all means you should learn the trap. But you shouldn't play 3.e3 just because you hope your opponent falls for the trap; I personally prefer 3.e4 to try to grab the center, but that's just my personal preference.</p>

<p>I don't like winning via an opening trap because there isn't really any skill involved other than memorization. If you start winning a large portion of your games through opening traps, your rating will go up... and then you will face opponents who know your traps and you won't know how to beat them, because you didn't learn any actual skills on the way up.</p>

<p>Trying to draw or even win a lost game with a swindle is a different matter. I occasionally do this, and it's fun when it works (though your opponent will have a different opinion!), but I only do this if I would otherwise resign.</p>
 70: <p>I will assume that a "trap game" is an opening that contains a devastating trap if your opponent plays the wrong move.</p>

<p>What happens if your opponent does not fall for the trap? As long as you can still have a good game, it's ok to play a trap game.</p>
