#Four move checkmate how to

The Wayward Queen Attack (1.e4 e5 2.Qh5)Īnother common sequence is 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5, bringing the queen out already on move 2 – attacking the pawn on e5 in the process. There’s another sequence that is also very common and tricky to defend against for beginners. Instead of 3.Qh5, White could play 3.Qf3, for example, and if Black doesn’t defend against it with a move like 3…Nf6, Qxf7 is again checkmate. Note that this isn’t the only sequence that results in Scholar’s Mate. They also can’t take the white queen because the bishop on c4 is defending her! This move is checkmate! White is threatening to take the black king, which has no escape squares.

Now things are looking suspicious! White brings their queen out, violating the principle of “never bring your queen out too early.” So Black aims to shoo the queen away with …Nf6, attacking the queen. Black also develops a piece, which has the nice benefit of guarding the pawn on e5.

White develops their king’s bishop to an active square in the center. Not usually what the pros prefer, but still pretty normal looking. Black responds in kind, grabbing some central control, halting White’s pawn, and opening up their f8 bishop for development. These moves have been played millions of times – White opens with the king pawn, grabbing some control of the center and opening the way for their bishop on f1 to develop. (Check this article out if you have a hard time reading chess notation) Scholar’s Mate can arise from fairly natural opening moves.

#Four move checkmate how to

The Movesīefore we learn how to stop it, let’s learn the moves that achieve Scholar’s Mate. In this article, we’ll explain this common four-move checkmate, called the Scholar’s Mate – and how to prevent it as Black. Not only is it possible, it happens all the time to beginners making seemingly natural moves! What? Checkmate in four moves? Is it possible? For that reason, Scholar’s Mate often backfires and is considered dubious.Black has several good ways to defend against Scholar’s Mate, and actually get an opening advantage by doing so.It takes advantage of the vulnerability of the weak f7 square

Scholar’s Mate is an opening sequence where White can checkmate Black in four moves.