Bogo-Indian Defense: Monticelli Trap

Bogo-Indian Defense: Monticelli Trap is a chess opening with the ECO code E11, part of the Bogo-Indian Defense family. It goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 O-O 8. Nc3 Ne4 9. Qc2 Nxc3 10. Ng5. White opens with 1. d4 (the queen's pawn) and Black answers 1... Nf6. After 19 moves it is Black to move. After the last move Black is 3 points ahead in material. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

The line goes on for 7 more moves; the lesson shows them all.

About the Bogo-Indian Defense

After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3, Black gives check with 3...Bb4+. It is a calm, solid cousin of the Nimzo-Indian.

Related openings

Browse every named opening · Opening courses