The trap is one of the most dangerous weapons in chess But when you suspect that your opponent is setting a trap for you, it is best to examine it care fully with the idea that on some occasions it is best to fall into it The trapper sometimes be comes the trapped. This is ex actly what happened to the New York Sun’s correspondent in one of his games from the most re cent U.S. championship.

KRUSH VS. GULKO
(white) (black)
Nimzoindian Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 0-0 6.a3 Bxc5 7. Nf3 b6 8. Bf4 Nh5 9. Bg5 Be7 10. Bxe7 Until recently the plan posing the most dangers for black was thought to be 10.h4!? Bb7 11.0-0-0 but in the game Eljanov-Gulko 2006 after 11…d6! 12.e4 Nd7 13. Be2 h6 14. Be3 Nhf6 15. Nd4 h5! black obtained a good game. But here, one of the best American female players has prepared a novelty in another sharp line. 10… Qxe7 11.g4!? Nf6 12.g5 Ne8 13.0-0-0 In Sokolov-Zvjginsev 2001 black obtained sufficient counterplay after 13. Nd4 Bb7 14. Rg1 Nd6 15.e3 Rc8 16. Bd3 g6 17. Qe2 e5! 18. Ndb5 Nxb5 19. Nxb5 e4! The move in this game is sharper.] 13… Bb7 14. Rg1 Na6! This is an innovation. Previously 14…Nc6 was played here. Black want to keep the c-file open. 15. Bg2 Rc8 16. Nd2 The alternative 16. Rd4 d5 17. cxd5 (not dangerous for black was 17. Ne5 Nd6 18.f4 Nf5) 17…Bxd5 18. Kb1 (unattractive for white was 18. Ne5 Nd6 19. Bxd5 exd5 20. Rxd5? Nc7) 18…Bb7 19. Rh4 g6 didn’t promise white clear attacking chances. 16… Bxg2 17. Rxg2 Nac7 18. Kb1!? Setting a trap. The straightforward plan to bring the knight to f6: 18.e4 b5 19.e5 d5! (19…bxc4 20. Nde4 Kh8 21. Nd6 would be good for white.) 20. exd6 Nxd6 21.c5 Nf5 22. Nde4 Rfd8 was not dangerous for black. 18… b5 19. cxb5 Nxb5

(See Diagram)

20. Nd5!? Nxa3+! The objective, prepared by black. White be better in the case of 20…exd5 21. Qxc8 Nec7 22. Qb7 21. Ka2 The only move. Bad for white was 21. bxa3 Rb8+ 22. Nb4 a5. 21… exd5! This is much stronger than 21…Qd6 22. Ne7+! Qxe7 23. Qxc8 Nb5 24. Qc4 and white stands slightly better. 22. Qxc8 Nb5 23. Qc2! The queen has to return. In case of 23.e3? Nec7 24. Qb7 Qb4 white cannot parry simultaneous threats to the queen by means of 25…Nc3+ and to the d1 rook by means of 25…Qa4+ 23… Qxe2 24. Rc1 Ned6 25. Nb3 Qe5 26. Rg4 g6 Making “luft” for the king. Not bad was the immediate 26…Nc4!? 27. Nd2 (white hardly can defend after 27. Rh4 g6 28.f4 Qe6) 27…Qe6! 28. Rg3 Qa6+ (probably even stronger was 28…Nd4! 29. Qa4 Ne2 30. Re1 Nc3+ 31. Rxc3 Qxe1) 29. Kb1 Rb8 30. Nxc4 dxc4 31. Qxc4 Na3+ 32. Rxa3 Qxa3 33. Qd4. 27. Na5 An annoying pin would arise in case of 27. Nc5 Rc8. 27… d4! 28. Nb3 Rb8 29. Rg3 Qe6?! The wrong move order. Black rejected 29…Ne4! because of 30. Rg4 (30. Rd3 Qe6 could happened in the game.) but after 30…Nec3+! 31. bxc3 Qe6 32. Qe4 Qa6+ 33. Kb2 Qa3+ 34. Kc2 Nxc3 black would win. 30. Ka1 Ne4 31. Nc5! A nice counter-combination that gives white some survival chances. In case of 31. Rd3 Qa6+ 32. Kb1 Nec3+! 33. Rxc3 Nxc3+ 34. bxc3 Qa3 black would win on the spot. If black play the more precise 29…Ne4!, he also would have won immediately. 31… Nxc5 32. Qxc5 Qa6+ 33. Kb1 Nc3+ 34. Rgxc3 dxc3 35. Rxc3?! Now white’s position again becomes lost. Drawing chances were promised by 35. Qxc3! Qb5 36.h4. 35… Qb7! 36. Rc2 Qh1+ 37. Ka2 Qxh2 38. Qxa7 Qe5 39. Qxd7 Ra8+ 40. Kb1 Qxg5 41. Rc8+ Rxc8 42. Qxc8+ Kg7 43.b4 Hopeless was 43. Qc3+ Qf6 44. Qe3 h5. Instead, white sacrifices a second pawn hoping to activate his b pawn, but it is to no avail. 43… Qg1+ 44. Kb2 Qxf2+ 45. Kb3 h5 46.b5 h4 47. Kb4 Qe3 48. Qc7 h3 0-1