Scholar's Mate

Scholar's Mate

The Scholar's Mate, also referred to as the four move checkmate even though there are other ways to checkmate in four, can be achieved by:

1.e4                e5

2.Qh5             Nc6

3.Bc4              Nf6

4.Qxf7#

History

Scholar's mate was named and described in The Royall Game of Chesse-Play, a 1656 text by Francis Beale which adapted the work of the early chess writer Gioachino Greco.[1] The example given above is an adaptation of that reported by Beale.

The Schollers Mate.

White kings pawne one house.
Black kings pawne the same.
White Queen to the contrary kings Rookes fourth house
Black Queens knight to her Bishops third house
White kings Bishop to the queens Bishops fourth house
Black kings knight to the kings Bishops third house

White queen takes the contrary kings Bishops pawne gives mate.

— Beale, The Royall Game of Chesse-Play[2]

Prevention

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.

Practical                                                                                 See the game below to understand: