ECO C71 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Noah's Ark Trap

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 d6 6. d4 Nxd4 7. Nxd4 exd4 8. Qxd4 c5

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

9. Qc3−2.17

Black is winning. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Noah's Ark Trap (C71), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 d6 6. d4 Nxd4 7. Nxd4 exd4 8. Qxd4 c5, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. Qc3 for White. Black is winning (−2.17).

Top engine moves

  1. −2.179. Qc3 c4 10. a4 cxb3 11. axb5 Nf6 12. O-O Be7 13. bxa6 O-O
  2. −2.539. Qe3 c4 10. Bxc4 bxc4 11. Nc3 Nf6 12. Qg3 Be7 13. Be3 O-O
  3. −2.549. Qd5 Be6 10. Qb7 c4 11. Nc3 Qc8 12. Qb6 cxb3 13. axb3 Ne7

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. d4 Nxd4 9. Nxd4 exd4 10. Qxd4 c5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Noah's Ark Trap?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 d6 6. d4 Nxd4 7. Nxd4 exd4 8. Qxd4 c5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. Qc3 for White, continuing c4 10. a4 cxb3 11. axb5 Nf6 12. O-O Be7 13. bxa6 O-O. Black is winning (−2.17). The next best moves are 9. Qe3 (−2.53) and 9. Qd5 (−2.54).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Noah's Ark Trap a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −2.17: black is winning. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Ruy Lopez: Noah's Ark Trap?
C71. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).