Legal's Mate: Sac your Queen!
Howdy y'all! Have you ever wanted to sac your queen for checkmate? What about sacking it early in the opening?! Well, a super old (well, dead) guy named De Legal (he's French) got to do it. Now we call it "Legal's Mate" if someone falls for the following trick. By, Mrs Jessica E Prescott (aka BoundingOwl).
Kermur Sire De Legal--from the French province Brittany--born 1702. You got to wear really cool clothes if you were rich back then. We don't have as nice capes anymore.
The first moves look pretty normal. When black plays 2...d6 we call it a Philidor. I like Nc6 better, but okay. Remember this was played like 300 years ago.
So, I stopped on Bg4 because, while this does make a relative pin, black should get his knight out first. Remember: knights before bishops.
That bishop might fianchetto, but black is having a hard time getting castled. That means his king isn't safe! Here, Legal created a hilarious trick. Well, hilarious for him. Not for St. Brie. He saw he could sacrifice his queen!
It's mate in two!!
The first move is a forcing check on the weakest square on the board. Do you see it?
Great work, kids!
Are you ready to sac your queen now! I'm sure you are. Just make sure you actually have a checkmate coming up. Otherwise, you are just playing down 9 bucks!
See you next time!