King Kibitz — Chess Musings

Let’s look at the fishing pole, a opening trap in the Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O

Black normally plays 4. … Nxe4.  But if you want to take your opponent out-of-book, you can try the fishing pole.
4. … Ng4

The two typical two traps White can fall into after 4. … Ng4:

#1 5.h3 h5 6.hxg4? hxg4 7. Nh2 Qh4 8. f3 g3 and Black will checkmate.
#2 5.Re1 Bc5 6. d4? Nxd4 7. Nxd4 Qh4 8. Nf3? Qxf2+ 9. Kh1 Qg1+ 10. Rxg1 Nf2#
Question #1 –  What should White play after 4. …Ng4.
I recommend either 5.d4 or 5.c3.  Here’s how play might continue:
5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 c6 8. Be2 d6
5. c3 Bc5 6. d4 exd4 7. cxd4 Be7  OR 5. c3 a6 6. Bxc6 dxc6
Question #2 – Can White Take the Knight after 5. …h5
Well, not right away.  As a YouTube viewer emailed me, White can play:

6. d4 exd4 7. hxg4 hxg4 8. Nh2 Qh4 9. Bf4 Bd6 10. e5 Nxe5 11. Re1 Kd8 12. Rxe5 f6 13. Bg3 Qh6 14. Re1 Bxg3 15. fxg3 Qxh2+ 16. Kf2 Qh5

It seems in the lines that I looked at, White is only able to take the Knight on g4 after Black has played exd4.

The next game we’ll study is Pillsbury vs. Mason.  Please review the game below and make your own notes before watching the video.

White: Pillsbury
Black: Mason
Place: Hastings 1895
Opening: Queen’s Gambit Declined
                (ECO: D53)

1. d4 d5
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. Bg5 Be7
5. Nf3 b6
6. e3 Bb7
7. Rc1 dxc4
8. Bxc4 Nbd7
9. O-O O-O
10. Qe2 Nd5
11. Bxe7 Qxe7
12. Nxd5 exd5
13. Bb5 Qd6
14. Rc2 c6
15. Bd3 Nf6
16. Rfc1 Rac8
17. Ba6 Bxa6
18. Qxa6 Rc7
19. Ne5 c5
20. Rxc5 Rxc5
21. Rxc5 Nd7
22. Rc6 Nb8
23. Rxd6 Nxa6
24. Nc6 g6
25. Nxa7 Ra8
26. Nc6 Kg7
27.a3 Rc8
28. g4 Nc7
29. Ne7 Rb8
30. Rd7 Ne6
31. Nxd5 Rc8
32. Nxb6 Rc2
33. b4 Ng5
34. a4 Ne4
35. a5 Nxf2
36. a6
1-0

Pillsbury vs. Mason Part 1

Pillsbury vs. Mason Part 2

The next game we’ll study is Tarrasch vs Kurscher.  Please review the game below and make your own notes before watching the video.
White: Tarrasch
Black: Kurscher
Place: Nuremburg 1889
Opening: Queen’s Gambit Accepted (ECO: D20)

1. d4 d5
2. c4 dxc4
3. e3 Bf5
4. Bxc4 e6
5. Qb3 Be4
6. f3 Bc6
7. Ne2 Nf6
8. e4 Be7
9. Nbc3 Qc8
10. d5 exd5
11. exd5 Bd7
12. d6 Bxd6
13. Bxf7+ Kd8
14. Bg5 Nc6
15. Ne4 Be7
16. Bxf6 gxf6
17. O-O-O Ne5
18. Nf4 Qb8
19. Qe6 Rf8
20. Nxf6 Bd6
21. Nxd7 Nxd7
22. Rhe1
1-0

Tarrasch vs Kurscher Part 1

Tarrasch vs Kurscher Part 2

The next game we’ll study is Alekhine vs Poindle.  Please review the game below and make your own notes before watching the video.
White: Alekhine
Black: Poindle
Place: Vienna 1936
Opening: Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense (C67)

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 Nf6
4. O-O Nxe4
5. d4 Nd6
6. dxe5 Nxb5
7. a4 Nd6
8. exd6 Bxd6
9. Ng5 Be7
10. Qh5 g6
11. Qh6 Bf8
12. Re1+ Ne7
13. Ne4 f5
14. Nf6+ Kf7
15. Qh4 Bg7
16. Bg5 h6
17. Qc4+ Kf8
18. Rxe7 Qxe7
19. Nh7+ Rxh7
20. Bxe7+ Kxe7
21. Qxc7 Bxb2
22. Ra2 Bf6
23. c4 Kf7
24. Re2 Rh8
25. Qd6 a5
26. Nc3 Ra6
27. Qd5+ Kg7
28. Nb5 Re6
29. Nd6 Rd8
30. Kf1
1-0

Alekhine vs Poindle Part 1

Alekhine vs Poindle Part 2

The next game we’ll study is Tarrasch vs. Mieses.  Please review the game below and make your own notes before watching the video.

White: Tarrasch
Black: Mieses
Place: Berlin 1916
Opening: French Defense (C10)

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. Nc3 dxe4
4. Nxe4 Nd7
5. Nf3 Ngf6
6. Bd3 Be7
7. O-O Nxe4
8. Bxe4 Nf6
9. Bd3 b6
10. Ne5 O-O
11. Nc6 Qd6
12. Qf3 Bd7
13. Nxe7+ Qxe7
14. Bg5 Rac8
15. Rfe1 Rfe8
16. Qh3 Qd6
17. Bxf6 gxf6
18. Qh6 f5
19. Re3 Qxd4
20. c3
1-0

Tarrasch vs. Mieses Part 1

Tarrasch vs. Mieses Part 2