Miniature of the Month - November 2009

This month's miniature is a surprisingly quick loss by Hikaru Nakamura. It could almost be classified as an opening trap, although one that Blacks creates for himself with a poor 9th move.

Becerra Rivero,Julio (2557) - Nakamura,Hikaru (2710) [B29]
USCL QF 2009 ICC INT (1), 11.11.2009
[Press,Shaun]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nc3 e6 5.Nxd5 exd5 6.d4 Nc6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qxd5 d6 9.Bc4 Qe7? [9...Be6 10.Qd3 Nb4 11.Qb3 Bxc4 12.Qxc4 Rc8=] 10.Bg5 f6 (D)
11.0-0-0! dxe5 [11...fxg5 12.exd6 Qf6 13.Rhe1+ Kd8 14.Qxc5+-] 12.Rhe1 And Nxe5 is a threat that Black decides he cannot meet. 1-0