Theoria
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Ruy Lopez

Berlin Defense, Fishing Pole Variation

C65tacticaloffbeat

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.Bb5Nf6
  4. 4.O-ONg4
444 games50%48%

A dubious Berlin Defense sideline in which Black's 4...Ng4 sets a trap along the h-file against White's castled king; White is better by declining it.

Train it in Theoria

About the Fishing Pole Variation

4...Ng4 abandons the center to set the Fishing Pole trap. After 5. h3 h5 the knight is bait: 6. hxg4?? hxg4 opens the h-file against White's castled king and hits the f3-knight, and 7. Nh2?? Qh4 leads to mate. White does best to leave the knight alone and develop, with 6. c3, 6. d4 or 6. Nc3 all retaining a clear advantage. The same trap can arise from the Morphy Defense via 3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Ng4.

Popular continuations