C71 · Opening trap · Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense Deferred
Noah's Ark Trap
The Noah's Ark Trap: White's Ruy Lopez bishop is shut in on b3 by ...b5, ...c5 and ...c4 after the queen recaptures on d4. Line, fix and data.
Set byBlack
Losing move8.Qxd4? → 8...c5!
One of the oldest traps in chess, said to be as old as the Ark. White's light-squared bishop retreats to b3, and Black's queenside pawns roll forward and bury it.
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How the Noah's Ark Trap works
Click a card to see it on the board, then play the punishment yourself.
How often does it work?
Counted in real rated Lichess games, not estimated.
Among players rated 1800 and higher, 8.Qxd4? was played in 1,603 of the games our puzzles are drawn from. Strong players fall for it too.
How to avoid the Noah's Ark Trap
What White should play instead.
Now spot it in a real game
Knowing a trap by name is not the same as seeing it at the board. Solve positions from real games until the pattern fires by itself.
Noah's Ark Trap
Getting there…8.Qxd4 puts the queen where it can be hit. 8...c5 gains a tempo, and after 9.Qd5 Be6 10.Qc6+ Bd7 11.Qd5 the queen has run out of checks. Then 11...c4 traps the bishop on b3. White gets two pawns for it at best.