Ruy Lopez Fishing Pole

Hi!  So I executed the Ruy Lopez Berlin Trap on my opponent.

I got him in the situation below, but then, instead of taking it, he did d2-d4.  I was at a complete loss, and lost the game.  Help!  What would you do?

Only beginners take the knight -- you usually see the move d3.

I believe that this is the position you refer to as " The Fishing Pole trap ". It usually leads to an equal ending, if played right by both sides. 

try

 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0–0 Ng4 5.h3 h5 6.d4 exd4 7.Nxd4 Bc5 8.Nf5 d6 9.Nxg7+ Kf8 10.Nf5 Bxf5 11.exf5 Qh4 12.Qf3 Nd4 13.Qxb7 Re8 14.Bxe8 Ne2+ 15.Kh1 Qxf2 16.Rxf2 Ng3+ 17.Kg1 Bxf2#

as mentioned in the books

How To Play Chess Like An Animal

 by Anthea Carson and Lynn Trochim

or

Formation Attacks

by Joel Johnson 

 I usually spring this trap on ICC blitz players using less than 30 seconds on my clock

or find thousands of annotated Fishing Poles at

BrianWallChess@Yahoogroups.com

1 thing you should never do is rely on traps and hope your opponent falls for them

this is your opponents reaction to the fishing pole

What's that in the game on post #8?

After 8...d6? white is winning by simply taking the knight: 9.hg4 g6 10.b4!, or 9...Bxf5 10.gf5, or 9...hg4 10.Qxg4 g6 11.Bg5.

4...Ng4 is a silly, completely aimless move. It might work only against very weak opposition.

Brian Wall is the expert of the Fishing Pole,a great "off the wall" trap.  After 4...Ng4, White can also try 5.Nc3 or 5.c3 or 5.d4 instead of 5.h3.  Several masters, besides Brian, plays this variation, which has a good drawing or winning record for Black.