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Legall's Mate

This past week at the Midway Chess Club we discussed Legall's Mate. I figured I would share this lesson here on Chess.com Hope you learn something.

 


This well-known opening trap is credited to the French player M. de Kermar, Sire de Légall (1702-1792).  It also is sometimes called the Blackburne Trap, since the English player Joseph Blackburne (1859-1951) used to catch so many players in it!  It can arise in a number of different move orders, and it's one of those traps you need to be aware of so you don't fall victim to your own greed!  Learn to recognize the pattern you see in the following examples.


Another way of setting this trap.

If the trap is not fallen into.


Here is an example from a 1938 game. The Opening is Ruy Lopez


Another example from King's Gambit Opening


Hope you have the pattern by now.
Here is the test.
Solve this Problem

Comments


  • 2 Years Ago

    stanhope13

    i always think the queen sacrifice is a giveaway.

  • 2 Years Ago

    Dozy

    I've won a couple of games from that third position but it needs 4.h3 first.  If black then plays 4...Bh4 the trap is on.

    At this point you're not playing for Legal's Mate because 5.Nxe5 Nxe5,  6. Qxh4 Nxc4, 7. Qb5+ reclaiming the piece, winning a central pawn, and setting up a pretty strong position.

    But twice now I've had people take the queen and the mate was on.  The last time was in the NSW U1600 Championship and the poor guy didn't realise the game was over till I folded the score sheet and put it in my pocket.

  • 2 Years Ago

    Assassin2142

    Nice, i play people that use these openings all the time too!!!  Thanks!!!

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