Chess checkmate patterns
What Is Scholar's Mate in Chess?
Scholar's mate is a quick checkmate in which White's queen and light-squared bishop attack the weak f7 pawn and the queen takes on f7 with mate, usually on move four: 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Qh5 Nf6 4.Qxf7.
Examples
1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Qh5 Nf6 4. Qxf7#
White's bishop on c4 and queen on h5 both aim at f7. Black's 3...Nf6 attacks the queen but ignores the threat, and Qxf7 is checkmate because the bishop protects the queen.
1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Qh5 g6 4. Qf3 Nf6
The correct defense. 3...g6 blocks the queen's path to f7 and attacks it. After 4.Qf3, renewing the threat on f7, 4...Nf6 blocks the f-file, and Black is well developed.
Why f7 is the target
At the start of the game, f7 is the weakest point in Black's camp because only the king defends it. A queen and bishop aimed at f7 attack it twice, so if Black does nothing, the queen captures with check and the king cannot recapture or escape.
The same idea works for Black against f2, though White usually reaches it first.
How to defend against Scholar's mate
Watch for the queen coming out to h5 or f3 with the bishop already on c4. The cleanest defenses are 3...g6, which blocks the line and hits the queen, and 3...Qe7, which guards f7 and protects e5. Once the queen retreats, develop the king's knight to f6 and the attack has nothing left.
The move that loses is one that ignores f7, such as 3...Nf6 in the first example, which attacks the queen but leaves the mate on.
Is Scholar's mate a good opening for White?
Against beginners it wins games. Against anyone who knows the defense, bringing the queen out on move three wastes time, because Black gains tempi by attacking it while developing. White is not lost, but the cheap shot leaves White with a worse version of a normal opening.
Common questions
What is the difference between Scholar's mate and Fool's mate?
Fool's mate is the fastest possible checkmate, by Black on move two, after White weakens the king with f3 and g4. Scholar's mate takes four moves and is delivered by White on f7.
Can Scholar's mate happen with the queen on f3?
Yes. A queen on f3 with a bishop on c4 also attacks f7 twice. The same defenses apply: block the f-file with the knight on f6 or guard f7 with the queen.
Keep learning
Find these moments in your own games.
Paste a game into the free analyzer to find the moves that cost you, with each mistake explained in plain English. Three analyses are free, with no email or card.
Analyze a game free →Practice with a coach beside you.
Play a human-like opponent at your level while the coach explains your moves as you go. The first coached game is free.
Play a free coached game →