This should help improve everyone who doesn't know these basic checkmates.

1. The Scholar's Mate

Often the most common mate, The Scholar's Mate is a 4-Move Checkmate game.

Fun Fact: Did you know that in other languages the scholar's mate has different names? In Spanish, French, Portuguese, and some other languages, it is called the "Shepards Mate".

Now I will show you how to do the scholars mate, and then show you alternatives for defense and other alternatives for not checkmating the king but getting ahead in material.

The Scholars Mate:

A.

B. (I like to call this the Forgotten Scholars Mate, this is because many times, my opponent does not notice my queen threatening checkmate and plays a stupid move. Though this checkmate is easier to block it is still common)

That is one alternative, though black can stop that checkmate by playing.

That is the disadvantage to this version since you can't play queen to h5. Since then the knight would take your queen for free.

Okay Now let's Discuss A Non-Checkmate But a Useful way to gain material, this is an effective move but does not always work nicely. So If you are playing a weaker player (below 500 ratings), then this move is probably very effective, since moving the pawn up seems like the best move.

Here We Go:

This is one way.

This Way is Probably The Best Way If you are black and you have already fallen for the trap. By Moving Your Knight to cover the check from the queen on the king, you avoid the danger of losing a knight and your bishop is defended by your king.

More Disadvantages for black from moving your knight to defend

Disadvantage 1 (You Lose A Pawn)

Disadvantage 2:

Your Kingside Bishop Is only defended by the king. Also, the king is in a tight position and is sort of trapped by its own pieces.

A way to defend against this loss:

b.

And the last one white, can easily avoid black's attempt to stop white's piece gain, if white takes the knight.

Hope you found this useful.

CJMS Chess Club

Super Admins