Montecelli Trap

Monticelli Trap
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This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

Start of chess board.
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
End of chess board.
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–Prokes, Budapest 1926.

The trap begins with the moves

1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6

Black plays the Indian Defence.

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 wasn't 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.