Legal's mate: sacrifice the queen, mate with a knight
Legal's mate is an old trap where White offers the queen and wins with three minor pieces. Watch it, then play each key move yourself.
Legal's mate explained
It starts from a common opening: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Bg4 4. Nc3 g6. Black pins the knight on f3 and thinks the e5 pawn is free. White ignores the pin with 5. Nxe5!
If Black takes the queen with 5... Bxd1, White plays 6. Bxf7+ Ke7 7. Nd5#. The king is boxed in by its own pieces, and the bishop and two knights give checkmate.
What is the idea?
Give up the queen to drag Black's bishop away and open the f7 square. The king then has no safe squares.
Can Black avoid it?
Yes. After 5. Nxe5, Black should not take the queen. Playing 5... dxe5 keeps the game going; after 6. Qxg4 White has only won a pawn.
Why does it work?
The black king is blocked by its own pieces, and three white pieces attack the squares around it.
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Questions
Who was Legal?
The trap is named after Sire de Legal, a French player of the 1700s who is said to have played it. It is a well-known old opening trap.
Does it work against good players?
No. A strong player will not take the queen. It works against beginners who grab material without checking.
How can Black avoid it?
Do not take the queen on d1. After 5. Nxe5, capture the knight with the d-pawn (5... dxe5) instead.