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White: Dave Wolford
Black: John P. Pratt
Date: 8 Feb 1977
Location: Hill Air Force Base, Utah
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Dave wasn't present to see the Kostics' Trap which I had used previously. Besides, Dave always opened with both knights rather than Giuoco Piano required for Kostics Trap. So before our tournament game, I sat up a night and designed a modification to the Kostics' Trap to use on him. I was fortunate that he played it exactly as I designed it.
Another lesson here is to be familiar with several openings. And don't be predictable. I would never have even taken the time to design this trap if I had ever seen him open with anything other than the Two Knights offense. He was totally predictable and it led to his downfall as he played the game exactly as I designed it for him.
| 1. e2-e4, e7-e5. | |
| 2. Ng1-f3, Nb8-c6. | |
| 3. Nb1-c3, Bf8-c5. | So far we have a very traditional two-knight opening. |
| 4. Bf1-c4, Nc6-d4. | So here is the bait! It looks like Black forgot to guard his pawn. |
| 5. Nf3xe5, Qd8-g5. | Hooray, he took the bait. And the queen move doesn't look too scary. |
| 6. Ne5xf7, Qg5xg2. | White now see he could lose his rook and the game! |
| 7. Rh1-f1, d7-d6. | White's move is mostly forced, but then Black lulls him back to sleep. |
| 8. Nf7xh8, Bc8-g4! | White's greed causes him to ignore defense and development! |
| 9. Nc3-e2, Nd4-f3 mate. | White never saw it coming because he was focused elsewhere. |
Another successful option I had planned is 9. Bc4-e2, Bg4xe2; 10. Nc3xe2, Nd4-f3 mate. When I played it, I thought White can save himself by moving 9. f2-f3 which gives his king breathing room, but it would look like a poor move because the obvious response is Bg4xf3 which appears to simply lose White a pawn. So I was betting that Dave wouldn't try it. And he didn't!
Recently Sam Sloan pointed out that a better response to 9. f2-f3 would be Nd4xf3+ which forces 10. Rf1xf3 (unless Queen forfeited). After 10. . . . Bg4xf3, white plays either 11. Nc3-e2 or Bc4-e2 and then black wins with Qg2-f2 mate.
Then someone made an instructional video of this game, found on my website in mp4 format or on YouTube (called "Chess Trap #14: Pratt Trap"). The video points out other even better options. After 9. f2-f3 Nd4xf3+; 10 Rf1xf3, then Black plays 10. ... Qg2-g1+. Then if White plays 11. Ke1-e2 then 11. ... Qg1-f2 mate and if 11. Rf3-f1 then 11 ... Bc5-f2 mate! So it was even better than I had thought. Thanks guys!