Stratagem 28: Lure Them Onto the Roof

The Stratagem

上屋抽梯 — “Lead them up to the roof, then remove the ladder.”

This is one of the clearest images in the Thirty-Six Stratagems. The other side climbs because the position looks worthwhile. Only after they are committed do you remove the route back.

Why Commitment Matters More Than Force

Direct force creates resistance. Voluntary commitment creates entanglement.

That is why this stratagem is dangerous. It uses the other side’s own choice as part of the trap.

The Strategic Logic

1. Present a position that looks advantageous
2. Let the other side invest in it
3. Wait until withdrawal becomes expensive
4. Remove the easy exit
5. Negotiate or strike from the resulting leverage

Modern Application

• Business: let a rival overcommit to a costly strategy before changing conditions
• Negotiation: get the other side to publicly commit before narrowing their options
• Competition: draw an opponent out of a flexible position into a rigid one

Warning

If you remove the ladder too early, the trap fails. If you remove it too late, the other side may already have built another way down.

Key Takeaways

• The heart of the stratagem is voluntary commitment
• The trap works only after retreat becomes expensive
• Choice can bind an opponent more tightly than force
• Timing determines whether the enclosure holds

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Next: Stratagem 29 — The Flower in the Tree →