How to Defend against the Four move checkmate

Tired of losing chess in four moves? Maybe it's to a friend, a rival at your club, or perhaps a family member that is too smart for his/her own good. Regardless, This article will show you, in detail, the best defense for black against the so-called "scholar's mate" that will (often) make a fool out of an unprepared opponent.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Your brain, a chess set, and an obnoxious opponent.

1. You are black. White' s first move will probably be 1. e4 (pawn to e4), although sometimes it is 1. e3 (pawn to e3). It will more likely be 1. e4 for two reasons. The first reason is that 1. e3 risks getting his queen trapped. The second reason is that 1. e4 is a sound move, even if he isn't trying for the four move checkmate. This is because it gives him more control of the central squares, and unlike 1. e3, it doesn't lock in his queen's bishop.
   
   Regardless, your move should be 1...e5 (pawn to e5). This is a strong response to 1. e4 or 1.e3 even if white does not commit to the four move checkmate.

2. On the second move and third moves, white will try and double attack your f7 pawn (King' s bishop's pawn). Your f7 pawn is the weakest point in your position at the start of the game, because it is the only pawn in front of your king that is not defended by at least one other piece (Your king' s pawn and queen's pawn are each defended by your king, queen, and one bishop). This often makes it the target of early attacks, such as this.
   
   Therefore, on move 2, there are three possible moves white could make to attack f7. The first, and most common way, is with 2. Qh5. (Queen to h5). This is the most effective because it not only attacks f7, but also attacks the black pawn on e5. The second, and next best, is to play 2. Bc4 (Bishop to c4). Sneaky players will use this to mask their intentions. It is effective, because 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 is a common line anyway, known as the bishop's opening. The bishop's opening is played a lot, even when white is not going for the four move checkmate. Also, moving the bishop on the second move is less conspicuous than moving the queen. The third way white can attack f7 is by playing 2. Qf3 (Queen to f3). This is often played because players feel it is safer than putting the queen on h5.
   
   If white plays 2. Qh5 (the best choice), the correct counter-move is 2...Nc6 (Knight to c6). This brings your knight to a strong defensive post while protecting your e5 pawn.
   
   If white plays 2. Bc4 or 2. Qf3, this is not necessary, as your e5 pawn is not under attack. Therefore, your best response is 2...Nf6 (Knight to f6). This not only blocks the white queen's access to f7, but also protects the h5 square, so you never have to worry about her attacking you from the side. This should stop the attack. 2...Nf6 also attacks black' s e4 pawn, which is a good thing for you.

3. So far, the following moves should be played: 1. e4 e5 2. Qh5 Nc6 (Both King' s pawn's are in the center. White is attacking black' s pawn with his queen. Black is defending it with his knight. White to move.)
   
   white' s third move will be 3. Bc4. This threatens 4. Qxf7++(Queen captures black' s f7 pawn, checkmating the king). Your response should be 3...g6. This not only blocks f7, but also threatens the queen, forcing her to move again.

4. White' s fourth move will be 4.Qf3, threatening checkmate again. There is a very easy way to stop this though, and it is 4...Nf6 (blocking f7).

5. If white is wise, he will play 5. c3 (pawn to c3) on his fifth move, locking your knight out of d4. But if white is overly ambitious, he will keep attacking your king.
   
   There are two ways he might do this. The first is 5.g4 (pawn to g4), threatening 6.g5 (pawn to g5), threatening your knight on f6. Once you move your knight (back to g8 perhaps), white will capture on f7 with his queen and win. Unfortunately for him, 5. g4 allows you a devastating counter attack. It starts with 5...Nd4!!(Knight to d4). This threatens the queen on f3, as well as the pawn on c2. White is forced to move his queen to defend the c2 pawn, but this allows your other knight (on f6) to capture either of white' s pawns on e4 or g4, that the queen was previously defending. And if white allows you to capture on c2, you will win the white rook as well (You attack the rook while checking the king. White has to get out of check, and doesn't have time to move his rook).
   
   Sometimes, instead of 5. g4, white will play 5. Qb3 (Queen to b3), again, double attacking f7. Likewise, 5...Nd4 is still a good move, as it attacks his queen yet again. If he plays 6. Bxf7+ (Bishop captures on f7, check), just play 6...Ke7(King to e7). You are now attacking both his queen and his bishop, and you will win a piece. He might try 7.Qc4 (Queen to c4), moving the queen but still protecting the bishop, but you win by playing 7...d5(pawn to d5), threatening the queen again. Now the queen will have to move, and no matter where she goes, you can eat the bishop next move.

6. White' s best try here, is probably 6. Qd1 (Queen back to d1), defending the queen, and c2. Even still, you win a pawn with 6...Nxe4 (Knight captures pawn on e4). It is usually better to capture toward the center.

7. At this point, you are ahead by a pawn and have your knights at very strong attack posts. Your position is already strong enough to win, but, if black is really silly, he'll try to kick your knight with 7.f3(pawn to f3). If he does this, you will win in two moves. The first is 7...Qh4+ (Queen to h4, check).

8. He must play 8. Kf1 (King to f1). Then you win with 8...Qf2++(Queen to f2, check and mate!)

Tips & Warnings

• The reason this attack is frowned upon by most experienced players is that it involves the early development of the white queen. Black can exploit this by attacking her with knights and bishops. Look for ways to trap the queen, and try to develop more of your pieces while white is busy scurrying his queen around.
• If white plays his pawn to c3 before you can bring your knight to d4, fianchetto your King' s bishop (move it to g7), and then castle king-side. This is a pretty solid position for black.
• Think carefully before each move. Make sure your f7 square is defended. Make sure all your pieces are defended.
• Practice!
• If white is threatening checkmate with his queen on h5 and bishop on c4, DO NOT play ...Nf6. It is too late. You will get checkmated. Instead, move your queen to e7 or f6.
• Make sure your e5 pawn is defended. If white is allowed to capture it with his queen, he will win your rook on h1, and probably more of your pieces too.
• Watch out for trucks!

Resources

• Chess Kids Tutorial