John-Paul Wallace annotates

John-Paul shows us an interesting trap from a game played at the club.

White: Ernest Ignatovic
Black: Tor Molin
RJCC, 14/608

There were some interesting moments in the opening in the following game.

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nf6
3. Nxe5 Qe7

This is a classic error, moving the queen out too early. Better is 3...d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4. Not 3...Nxe4?! 4.Qe2 Nf6? 5.Nc6+ winning the queen!

4. Nf3 Qxe4+
5. Be2 d5
6. Nc3 Qg6
7. 0–0 Bh3

At this point it appeared, perhaps to both players, that Black is winning. In face White is winning thanks to a wonderful combination.

8. Nh4! Qg5
9. g3

9.d4!! Qxh4 10.g3 wins for White - the Black queen is trapped.

9... Bxf1?
10. Bxf1?

Missing the opportunity - 10.d4! wins the queen again!

10... d4
11. d3 Qa5
12. Qe2+ Be7
13. Ne4

13.Bd2

This brilliant idea belongs to Theodore Dias. We all thought it looked good as in return for White's sacrifices he is ready to gain a very strong attack. The problem is that after: 13...dxc3 14.Bxc3 Black gains time for defence by threatening to swap queens: 14...Qh5! after which White does not have enough for the rook. Don't you hate Fritz?

13... 0–0?
14. Nxf6+ Bxf6
15. Qg4 Re8

and now White Ernest has some play for the exchange but after some good defence Tor later gained a won position, only to blunder into a mating net... In any case - the trap / combination on move 8 and 9 is certainly worth remembering!