A chess game can end in checkmate in as few as 2 moves (2 by each side). There's also Scholar's Mate, a 4-move checkmate that beginners often fall for. This article covers the moves of these quick checkmates and how to stop them.

Contents

  1. The fastest is 2 moves (Fool's Mate)
  2. Mate in 4 moves (Scholar's Mate)
  3. How to stop it
  4. Should you try it yourself?
  5. How to try it out

The fastest is 2 moves (Fool's Mate)

This is the fastest possible checkmate in chess. White loses.

  1. 1.f3 e5: White moves the f-pawn, opening the diagonal next to the king.
  2. 2.g4 Qh4#: When White also moves the g-pawn, Black's queen checkmates the king from h4.

The position after 1.f3 e5 2.g4 Qh4#. Black's queen on h4 checkmates the king on e1 The position after 2...Qh4#. Because the f- and g-pawns have moved, the diagonal from h4 to the king on e1 is open.

  • This is known as "Fool's Mate."
  • It only happens if White deliberately makes two bad moves, so you'll almost never see it in a real game. But it shows clearly that moving the f- and g-pawns early leaves the diagonal next to the king in danger.

Mate in 4 moves (Scholar's Mate)

This is the quick checkmate beginners fall for most often.

  1. 1.e4 e5
  2. 2.Bc4: White's bishop aims at f7.
  3. 2...Nc6 3.Qh5: White's queen also aims at f7.
  4. 3...Nf6?? 4.Qxf7#: When Black tries to chase the queen away with the knight, the queen captures on f7 for checkmate. (?? marks a blunder)

The position after 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Qh5 Nf6?? 4. Qxf7#. White's queen captures on f7 for checkmate The position after 4.Qxf7#. The queen, protected by the bishop on c4, captures on f7 for checkmate.

  • f7 is Black's weakest square, since at the start only the king protects it (f2 for White).
  • White can also bring the queen out to Qf3 and aim at f7 in the same way.

How to stop it

You can stop Scholar's Mate with just one move that protects f7.

  • 3...g6: Blocks the queen's diagonal from h5 and chases the queen away at the same time.
  • 3...Qe7 or 3...Qf6: Protects f7 with the queen.
  • If you play 2...Nf6 earlier, on move 2, the queen can't come out to h5.

After stopping it, chase White's early queen with your knights and pawns while bringing your own pieces out. Bringing the queen out early tends to backfire because it gets chased around. → "Recommended Chess Openings for Beginners"

Should you try it yourself?

  • Scholar's Mate sometimes works against beginners.
  • But if it's properly stopped, you're worse off because you brought your queen out early. It won't work against strong opponents.
  • Rather than aiming for it, we recommend learning it so you don't fall for it.

How to try it out

Play Chess