is it able to mate someone in three moves from the start of a game?

Any ideas?

I have a four move checkmate here:

yess! Goal achieved. You guys can post other ideas, either black side or white.

two moves

I've read that in a tournament over 100 years ago, there was a certain rule.  If you touch a piece you have to use it, so the touch rule.  If you couldn't move it, though, then you had to move your King.  The story goes that White went to grab his Knight to play Nc3 but grabbed his Bishop instead.  The Bishop has no legal moves, so White was forced to play Ke2, allowing mate in one.

I don't know if it is true or not, but it's a better story than 'White randomly develops his King in the opening.'

interesting four move mate

wow, all cool

great game! gingerninja! Sorry i cant quote your two move checkmate.

but from now on, white has to checkmate black. So I will say the best you can is three moves. You people could post 3 -7 move checkmates from the start.