Opening Trap – The Fishing Pole
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.