Practice the Ruy Lopez Queen Sacrifice Trap

The line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 8. Nxe5 Bxd1 9. Bxf7+ Ke7 10. Nxc6+ Kxf7 11. Nxd8+ Rxd8 12. Rxd1

Your moves, explained

1. 1. e4 Central control invites Black to mirror with e5.
2. 2. Nf3 The knight pressures e5 and prepares Bb5.
3. 3. Bb5 The bishop indirectly targets e5 by pinning its defender.
4. 4. Ba4 The bishop slides back to a4, maintaining pressure on c6.
5. 5. O-O Safe king and a subtle invitation: b5 next walks into Bb3.
6. 6. Bb3 The bishop is safe on b3 and still eyes f7.
7. 7. h3 If Bxf3, Qxf3 is active and White keeps the bishop pair.
8. 8. Nxe5 Black can take the queen, but that opens a crushing combination.
9. 9. Bxf7+ The king steps to e7 and walks into a fork.
10. 10. Nxc6+ The king must move, allowing the knight to grab the queen on d8.
11. 11. Nxd8+ Black must recapture, completing the trade that wins two pawns.
12. 12. Rxd1 White emerges with two extra pawns in a technically winning endgame.

Key moments in the video

• 0:24 The Lopez bishop
• 1:01 Useful and provocative
• 1:30 Force bishop to decide
• 2:01 Queen sacrifice!
• 2:18 Bishop check on f7
• 2:24 Royal fork

Want the theory behind it? Read our Ruy Lopez Queen Sacrifice Trap guide.

Frequently asked questions

What are the moves of the Ruy Lopez Queen Sacrifice Trap?

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 8. Nxe5 Bxd1 9. Bxf7+ Ke7 10. Nxc6+ Kxf7 11. Nxd8+ Rxd8 12. Rxd1. You play White; After h3 forces Bh5, Nxe5 sacrifices the queen for a royal fork winning two pawns in the ending.

How do I practise the Ruy Lopez Queen Sacrifice Trap?

Watch Remote Chess Academy's video, then play the line yourself on the board on this page. You make all 12 of White's moves; a wrong move is undone with a hint, and the key moments jump the video to where Remote Chess Academy explains each move.

Do I need an account?

No. The practice is free and runs in your browser. Sign up only if you want Chess DNA to find the openings that lose you games in your own Chess.com or Lichess history.

More videos to practise

• Scotch Game Trap (Remote Chess Academy)
• Smith-Morra Gambit Trap (Remote Chess Academy)
• King's Indian Defense Trap (Remote Chess Academy)
• Ponziani Opening Trap (Remote Chess Academy)
• King's Gambit Accepted (Chess Talk)
• London System (GothamChess)
• All Watch & practice videos

The video is embedded from YouTube and belongs to Remote Chess Academy. Chess DNA is not affiliated with the creator. Updated Nov 10, 2026.