Chess traps

Noah's Ark Trap

Ruy Lopez · intermediate · set by Black

Black's pawns chase White's bishop until it's trapped.

If White recaptures on d4 with the queen, ...c5 and ...c4 trap the bishop on b3: it has no squares left.

Move by move

1. 1. e4: Central pawn.
2. 1... e5: Black answers.
3. 2. Nf3: Knight attacks e5.
4. 2... Nc6: Black defends.
5. 3. Bb5: The Ruy Lopez.
6. 3... a6: Asking the bishop.
7. 4. Ba4: Keeping the pin.
8. 4... d6: Solid.
9. 5. d4: White opens the center.
10. 5... b5: Pushing the bishop back.
11. 6. Bb3: The bishop retreats.
12. 6... Nxd4: Black gives the knight...
13. 7. Nxd4: White takes.
14. 7... exd4: Black recaptures.
15. 8. Qxd4 (the mistake): Greedy: the queen takes back.
16. 8... c5: Threatening ...c4.
17. 9. Qd5: The queen moves away.
18. 9... Be6: Covering d5.
19. 10. Qc6+: Check.
20. 10... Bd7: Blocking.
21. 11. Qd5: The queen comes back.
22. 11... c4: The bishop on b3 is trapped!

Safe instead: c3, Bd5

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