Scholar's mate

In chess, Scholar's Mate is the checkmate achieved by the following moves, or similar:

1. e4 e5

2. Bc4 Nc6

3. Qh5 Nf6??

4. Qxf7++

The same mating pattern may be reached by various move orders. For example, White might lay 2. Qh5, or Black might play 2...Bc5. In all variations, the basic idea is the same: the queen and bishop combine in a simple mating attack on f7 (or f2 if Black is performing the mate).

Scholar's mate is sometimes referred to as the "four-move checkmate", although there are other ways to checkmate in four moves. Unlike Fool's Mate, which rarely occurs at any level, games ending in Scholar's Mate are quite common among beginners. It is not difficult to parry, however.

On move 1

After 1.e4, Black can play a semi-open defense instead of 1...e5. Openings such as the French Defense (1...e6) or the Scandinavian Defense (1...d5) render Scholar's Mate unviable, while other openings such as the Sicilian Defense (1...c5) make 2. Bc4 a bad move (1. e4 c5 2. Bc4? e6, intending ...d5, gaining time by attacking the c4-bishop and attaining easy equality).

On move 2

The most common response to the Bishop's Opening (1e4 e5 2. Bc4) is 2...Nf6 (see Bishop's Opening, Berlin Defense), which also renders Scholar's Mate unviable.

On move 3

After 1.e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Qh5, the cleanest way to defend against the mate threat is 3...g6. Should White renew the Qxf7 threat with 4. Qf3, Black can easily defend by 4...Nf6 (see diagram), and develop the f8-bishop later via fianchetto (...Bg7).