Chess Openings·Légal Trap

Open Game

Légal Trap

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6 4.Nc3 Bg4 5.h3 Bh5 6.Nxe5 Bxd1 7.Bxf7+ Ke7 8.Nd5#

Step through

15 / 15
  1. 1.
  3. 2.
  5. 3.
  7. 4.
  9. 5.
  11. 6.
  13. 7.
  15. 8.

Tap a move to jump to that position.

A natural-looking reply walks straight into a prepared trick. A piece is thrown in to reach mate within a few moves. Of the four central squares, pawns stand on e4. 3 pieces have left the board. Neither side has castled yet. The last move is mate — the game is over.

The position

Length
15 moves
To move
Black
Legal replies
0
Minor pieces out
White 3 · Black 2
Material
30 · 37
Castling rights left
KQ
FEN
r2q1bnr/ppp1kBpp/2np4/3NN3/4P3/7P/PPPP1PP1/R1BbK2R b KQ - 2 8

Move by move

Each move spelled out: which piece went from where to where.

  1. 1.e4White: Pawn e2→e4
  2. 1…e5Black: Pawn e7→e5
  3. 2.Nf3White: Knight g1→f3
  4. 2…Nc6Black: Knight b8→c6
  5. 3.Bc4White: Bishop f1→c4
  6. 3…d6Black: Pawn d7→d6
  7. 4.Nc3White: Knight b1→c3
  8. 4…Bg4Black: Bishop c8→g4
  9. 5.h3White: Pawn h2→h3
  10. 5…Bh5Black: Bishop g4→h5
  11. 6.Nxe5White: Knight f3→e5 (capture)
  12. 6…Bxd1Black: Bishop h5→d1 (capture)
  13. 7.Bxf7+White: Bishop c4→f7 (capture) (check)
  14. 7…Ke7Black: King e8→e7
  15. 8.Nd5#White: Knight c3→d5 (check)

Nearby lines

first 5 moves shared

Italian Game…Nf3 Nc6 Bc4Italian Game, Two Knights Defence…Nf6Italian Game, Hungarian Defence…Be7Blackburne Shilling Gambit…Nd4Italian Game, Evans Gambit…Bc5 b4Italian Game, Traxler Variation…Nf6 Ng5 Bc5

Common questions

Q. What are the moves of Légal Trap?

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6 4.Nc3 Bg4 5.h3 Bh5 6.Nxe5 Bxd1 7.Bxf7+ Ke7 8.Nd5#

Q. Which family does it belong to?

Open Game — Everything that starts 1.e4 e5.

Q. Who is to move next?

After 15 moves it is Black to move.