Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bb5/3...Nf6/4. O-O/4...Ng4

Ruy Lopez:Open Game
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black kingc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black kingh8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7 black kingf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black knightd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 white bishopc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black pawnf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 white pawnf4 black kingg4 black knighth4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 white knightg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 black kingf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 black kingf1 white rookg1 white kingh1 black king1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Ng4
Parent: Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defence, Fishing Pole Variation

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4...Ng4

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With 4...Ng4, Black enters the Fishing Pole Variation. Here, the logical move is 5.h3 to attack the knight. Black can then set up a trap by playing 5...h5, creating the so-called fishing pole of the Fishing Pole Variation: the h3-pawn is the fish, the g4-knight is the bait, and the h5-pawn is the hook. Black is trying to tempt White to play 6.hxg4; White can sidestep the trap by simply continuing to develop normally, allowing them a comfortable advantage.

If White falls for the trap by playing 6.hxg4, then 6...hxg4, opening the h-file and attacking the f3-knight. Here, the best plan for White is to allow the knight to be captured. White should play either 7.c3 or 7.Bxc6, disallowing Black's knight from moving to d4 to attack f3. Black has an advantage due to the weakness of White's kingside.

If 7.Nh2 instead, intending to save the knight, then 7...Qh4 is crushing. 7.Ne1 loses even faster.

Theory table

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For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Ng4
5
Fishing Pole h3
h5
hxg4
hxg4
Ne1
Qh4
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References

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