Bogo-Indian Defence, Monticelli Trap

Monticelli Trap
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
d8 black queen
f8 black rook
g8 black king
a7 black pawn
b7 black bishop
c7 black pawn
d7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
b6 black pawn
e6 black pawn
g5 white knight
c4 white pawn
d4 white pawn
c3 black knight
g3 white pawn
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
c2 white queen
e2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white bishop
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
e1 white king
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2+ 5.Qxd2 b6 6.g3 Bb7 7.Bg2 O-O 8.Nc3 Ne4 9.Qc2 Nxc3 10.Ng5
ECO E11
Origin Monticelli vs. Prokeš, Budapest 1926
Named after Mario Monticelli
Parent Bogo–Indian Defence

In chess, the Monticelli Trap is a combination in the Bogo–Indian Defence, named for Italian champion Mario Monticelli from the game Monticelli versus Prokeš, Budapest 1926.[1] Although it is called a trap because White wins the exchange, Black does obtain some compensation.

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)


Discussion

White threatens mate with 11.Qxh7# as well as 11.Bxb7 winning a bishop and a rook. After either 10...Ne4 11.Bxe4 or 10...Qxg5 11.Bxb7, Black loses the exchange, but obtains compensation in the form of one or more pawns and possibly a weakened white king. It is unclear if the position is a forced win for White.

Former world champion José Raúl Capablanca allowed 10.Ng5 twice in consecutive games as Black against Max Euwe in Amsterdam, 1931, drawing both times. The second game continued:[2]

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

The line has been played several times over the years at the highest levels, including Portisch–Andersson 1983,[3] which ended in a draw, and Aronian–Postny 2005,[4] which White won. The offer of the exchange has in fact been refused by White in grandmaster games (either by 10.Qxc3 or 10.Ng5 Ne4 11.Bxe4 Bxe4 12.Nxe4[5]).

See also

References

Notes

Bibliography

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