C65 · Opening trap · Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense
Fishing Pole Trap
The Fishing Pole Trap: Black plants a knight on g4 in the Berlin, supports it with ...h5, and if White takes it the h-file opens for mate.
Set byBlack
Losing move6.hxg4? → 6...hxg4!
Popularised by the American master Brian Wall. The knight on g4 is the bait and the rook on h8 is the rod. The setup is objectively bad for Black, so White only has to leave the knight alone.
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How the Fishing Pole Trap works
Click a card to see it on the board, then play the punishment yourself.
How to avoid the Fishing Pole Trap
What White should play instead.
Now spot it in a real game
Knowing a trap by name is not the same as seeing it at the board. Solve positions from real games until the pattern fires by itself.
Fishing Pole Trap
Getting there…6.hxg4 hxg4 opens the h-file for the rook on h8, with the white king at the end of it. The knight on f3 must move, and after 7.Ne1 Qh4 Black threatens mate on the h-file. 8.f3 g3 closes the last escape square and mate follows next move.