Bogo-Indian Defence, Monticelli Trap

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Position after 10.Ng5!

The Monticelli Trap is a chess opening trap in the Bogo-Indian Defence, named for Italian champion Mario Monticelli from the game Monticelli versus Prokeš, Budapest 1926.

The trap begins with the moves

1. d4 Nf6

2. c4 e6

3. Nf3 Bb4+

Black plays the Bogo-Indian-Defence.

4. Bd2 Bxd2+

5. Qxd2 b6

6. g3 Bb7

7. Bg2 O-O

8. Nc3 Ne4

9. Qc2 Nxc3

10. Ng5!

(See diagram.)

Black must respond to two different threats: the mate threat 11. Qxh7# and 11. Bxb7 winning a bishop and a rook.

However, chess legend José Raúl Capablanca (Black) showed this trap was not so irrefutable when he drew in a game against fellow legend Max Euwe (White) in 1931 (Amsterdam).

Capablanca responded with

10. ... Ne4!

11. Bxe4 Bxe4

12. Qxe4 Qxg5

13. Qxa8 Nc6

14. Qb7 Nxd4

15. Rd1 c5

16. e3 Nc2+

17. Kd2 Qf5

18. Qg2 Nb4

19. e4 Qf6

20. Kc1 Nxa2+

21. Kb1 Nb4

22. Rxd7 Nc6

23. f4 e5

24. Rhd1 Nd4

25. Rxa7 exf4

26. gxf4 Qxf4

27. Re1 Nf3

28. Re2 Nd4

29. Re1 (½-½).

Nonetheless, this trap is still a massive blow to most opponents.

References

• Brace, Edward R. (1977), An Illustrated Dictionary of Chess, Hamlyn Publishing Group, pp. 191, ISBN 1-55521-394-4 
• Znosko-Borovsky, Eugene (1977), The Art of Chess Combination, Dover, pp. 82, ISBN 0-486-20583-5 
• chessworld.net