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Opening traps › Ruy Lopez

Noah's Ark Trap

A trap for Black in the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense. White's natural-looking 8.Qxd4 gives Black the bishop on b3.

The moves

How it works

In the Ruy Lopez, Qxd4?? takes back a pawn with the queen: ...c5 and ...c4 trap the bishop on b3.

What it wins

Black gets the bishop on b3.

How White avoids it

Taking back with the queen walks into ...c5 and ...c4, which trap the bishop on b3. Play c3 (or Bd5) instead. The safe move is c3.

Practise the Ruy Lopez as BlackThe trainer plays the moves real players at your rating choose, and springs this trap when they do.

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