Noah's Ark Trap

The Noah's Ark Trap occurs in various forms in many other openings. Especially the Ruy Lopez. The mistake occurs when Black tries to pin the King's Knight and then when it is "Kicked" it pulls back instead of taking the Knight. But unfortunately White does not bring his Bishop to safety and it is vulnerable to an onslaught of advancing pawns. In the Ruy Lopez Black does it to White. In other openings White can do it to Black. The lesson is: always keep your eyes on the advancing pawns--they can be deadly. The name refers to the fact that this is an old trap, as old as old Noah and his ark.

Ruy Lopez

Alexander Alekhine recommended this move [8. Qxd4??] in the tournament book for New York 1924 as a means for White to draw, but it is a mistake that loses material. Endre Steiner fell into this trap against José Capablanca at the Budapest tournament in 1929. White should instead play 8.Bd5 or try a gambit with 8.c3." So if Alekhine could overlook it, I don't blame others for doing so!


1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. d4 b5 6. Bb3 Nxd4 7. Nxd4 exd4 8. Qxd4 c5 9. Qd5 Be6 10. Qc6+ Bd7 11. Qd5 c4 12. Bxc4 bxc4 13. Qxc4 Nf6 14. Nc3 Be7 15. O-O O-O 16. a4 Be6 17. Qd3 Qa5 18. Bd2 Qh5 19. h3 Rfc8 20. b3 d5 21. exd5 Rd8 22. Qg3 Nxd5 23. Ne4 Bh4 24. Qh2 Nf6 25. Nd6 Qg6 26. Ba5 Rd7 27. c4 Ne4 28. Qf4 Bxf2+ 29. Rxf2 Nxf2 30. Kxf2 Rxd6 31. Qxd6 Qf6+ 32. Kg3 Qxa1 0-1

Wikipedia: The Noah's Ark Trap in the Ruy Lopez

King's Gambit Declined


1. e4 e5 2. f4 d6 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bh5 5. g4 Bg6 6. f5

Its not nice to decline the King's Gambit! Your nice opponent is offering you a Pawn, so take it already! Seriously, to decline the King's Gambit is not the best idea since statistics show that White wins more often when the KG is declined than when it is accepted. The mistake occurs when Black tries to pin the King's Knight and then when it is "Kicked" it pulls back instead of taking the Knight. The lesson is: always keep your eyes on the advancing pawns--they can be deadly.

Sicilian Defense

Another example showing this trap can occur where ever one side pins the other side's Knight and fails to move when "Kicked." If you don't want to take the Knight make sure your Bishop has room to escape or you will fall victim. Don't be too upset if you do because you will have many grandmasters to keep you company. How's that for a dubious honor!


1. e4 e5 2. f4 d6 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bh5 5. g4 Bg6 6. f5

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