Scholar's Mate attempt

Years ago when opponents played for Scholars Mate in the opening, it was usually because the were either novices or weak players and almost any practical defence usually resulted in their quick defeat.  It got so that defending became almost rote.  But a few years ago, I started running into players who use the moves threatening Scholar's Mate but have deeper plans and more tricks up their sleeves... and I've lost more than a few games as Black from lack of taking them seriously.  So, nowadays, I try to play as if my opponent isn't clueless.

Here is such a game. My opponent has a rating similar to mine, so I didn't expect anything silly.  My own plan was to try to improve my position by harassing his Queen.  I put in some light annotations into this 5/0 game, just to show my thoughts and to note some of my errors.

14... Ne2+ wins a bishop, right? Good game!

Bishop is protected by the rook.

I've played against an unknown opponent that kept going for Scholar's Mate. This was years ago. It seemed like maybe he was practicing with it, and trying to improve upon it. I played more or less the same way you did, and didn't feel any more than equal against white. I think i won those games, but there wasn't anything that i recall seeing which would've given me an advantage.

Duh! Thanks, Scott.

Unfortunately, he had just castled.

Pretty good!

17...h5 traps the queen, Qg5 Bf6.

Yes, I saw that later and put it in the notes. Thanks.

From Batgirl's annotations:

"I saw 17...h5, but couldn't work it out in the few seconds I had left and didn't want to squander away my Knight. 17...h5 18.Qg5 Ne6 wins the Queen."

Either Ne6 or Bf6 appears to work.

So you did, excuse my lack of observation.

That's ok.  I do like finding my own inaccuracies, mistakes and blunders when I can. After winning a blitz game, it's often (too often) humbling to go back and look for things I missed.

First of all, nice game. Sure for a blitz.

And after 7. ... d5 8. ed5: e4 9. Qg3 Nd5: 10. Bd5: Qd5: 11. Qc7: Bg4 you have lost a pawn, but a very good position in the centre.

After 8. h3 maybe ... d4 and 9. cd4: Nd4: 10. Qd1 Ne4: or 9. Bd5 Nd5: 10. ed5: e4 or 9. d3 Re8 10 Bg5.

14. ... Bd3 prevents castling and easy development of the white pieces.

"after 7. ... d5 8. ed5: e4 9. Qg3 Nd5: 10. Bd5: Qd5: 11. Qc7: Bg4 you have lost a pawn, but a very good position in the centre."

Thanks.

What do think about the restricting move 11...Qd3 ?

Did not see it and I have to say that 11. ... Qd3 looks very good indeed. Still I would prefer Bg4, because you have already that situation without playing it. And playing Bg4 you develop a piece and activate your second rook. Never mind that pawn on b7. It is not worth the trouble white is in.

With Bg4 there is already a mate in play on field d1. So it might continue with 12. h3 e3 13. Nf3 Bf3: 14. gf3: Qf3:. Now has white the equally uncomfortable choice between 15. Rf1 or 0-0. After castling is 15. ... Qh3: (threatening 16. de3:?? Be5) nice to play. After 15. Rf1 ed2: 16. Bd2 Rfe8+ 17. Be3 Re3:+ 18. fe3: Qe3:+ 19. Kd1 Rd8+ should white give his queen to prevent even more trouble.

Or 13. f3 ed2:+ 14. Nd2: (14. Bd2: Rfe8+ 15. Kf1/2 Bf5) Rfe8+ 15. Ne4 (15. Kd1 Bf5 threatening Qd3 Qc2#) Bf3: 16. gf3: f5.

In this kind of situations would I prefer swift action. Although Qd3 is definitely a good move, I would go for developing my own play.

That is awesome!  Someone please explain to me what a Scholar's Mate is?

nice game !!

It wasn't so awesome... some mistakes and weak moves.

Scholar's Mate is an attempt to mate quickly on f7, like this perhaps:

Thank you.  So why is it called "Scholar's"?

It's known by many names.  I don't know the origin of the term "Scholar's Mate."