Fishing Pole Trap
Ruy Lopez · intermediate · set by Black
Black leaves a knight on g4 as bait, and the h-file opens onto White's king.
If White takes the g4 knight with h3xg4, Black recaptures with the h-pawn and the open h-file lets the queen and rook mate on h2.
Move by move
- 1. e4: Central pawn.
- 1... e5: Black answers.
- 2. Nf3: Knight attacks e5.
- 2... Nc6: Black defends.
- 3. Bb5: The Ruy Lopez.
- 3... Nf6: The Berlin-style knight.
- 4. O-O: White castles.
- 4... Ng4: The fishing pole: the knight goes to g4.
- 5. h3: White kicks the knight.
- 5... h5: The bait: Black leaves the knight there!
- 6. hxg4 (the mistake): White bites and takes the knight.
- 6... hxg4: The h-file opens straight at White's king.
- 7. Ne1: Making room for f3.
- 7... Qh4: The queen arrives on the open h-file.
- 8. f3: Giving the king air.
- 8... g3: The pawn shuts the door and covers h2.
- 9. Bxc6: White grabs a piece.
- 9... Qh2#: Checkmate on h2!
Safe instead: d3, c3, Bxc6, Re1, d4