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Chess traps every beginner should know
Scholar's Mate
Scholar's mate is the most common way beginners lose in four moves. White's queen and bishop both aim at f7 — the one pawn only Black's king protects — and the queen takes it with checkmate.
It only works against a careless reply, which is why it is so popular in casual and online games. Learn it once and you will spot it coming for the rest of your chess life.
Play this trap now2 minutes · free · no sign-upThe moves
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Qh5 Nf6 4.Qxf7#
The queen takes f7 — mate. The king can’t take it: the bishop guards the queen. Black should have covered f7 with a pawn on g6 or the queen on e7.
What if the opponent doesn’t take the bait?
Develop a knight
4.Nc3 Nxh5
The f6 knight was hitting the queen, and it got eaten. Look for checks and captures first, knights later.
How not to fall for it
When the white queen jumps to h5 early, defend e5 and f7 at once with 3...g6 or 3...Qe7. After 3...g6 the queen has to move, and your knight comes to f6 with tempo.
Never answer Qh5 with ...Nf6 while f7 is attacked twice. Count attackers and defenders of f7 before every move in the opening.
Play this trap now2 minutes · free · no sign-upQuestions
Is Scholar's mate a good opening?
Against beginners it wins games, but against a prepared player the early queen gets chased around and White loses time. Learn it mostly to defend against it.
What is the fastest checkmate in chess?
Fool's mate takes two moves (1.f3 e5 2.g4 Qh4#). Scholar's mate is the most common fast mate at four moves.