Every beginner loses games like this. Make sure it doesn't happen to you!

Scholar's Mate (1)

1.e4 e5
2.Qh5 Nc6
3.Bc4 Nf6
4.Qxf7#
It's CHECKMATE. The White Queen is defended by the Bishop.
1-0













This time White brings his Bishop out first.

Scholar's Mate (2)

1.e4 e5
2.Bc4 Bc5
3.Qh5 Nc6
4.Qxf7#
The same thing has happened again! Make sure you NEVER lose like this! 1-0













This time the Queen comes from a different direction

Scholar's Mate (3)

1.e4 e5
2.Qf3 Nc6
3.Bc4 Bc5
4.Qxf7#
It's CHECKMATE again. Will Black never learn?
1-0













Black plays better, but not well enough.

Scholar's Mate (4)

1.e4 e5
2.Qh5 Nc6
3.Bc4 g6
A good move! Black BLOCKS the White Queen's attack. So White tries a different approach.
4.Qf3
The same idea again. Will Black see it this time?
Nd4
How sad! He's fallen for it again!
5.Qxf7# 1-0













In this game Black plays the right move at the wrong time.

Don't defend like this!

1.e4 e5
2.Qh5 g6
A serious mistake. Black should defend the e-pawn before attacking the Queen.
3.Qxe5+
Capturing a Pawn, giving CHECK and THREATENING a Rook - a QUEEN FORK!
3...Ne7
4.Qxh8
White has won a Rook and a Pawn.
*













Black tries to defend with a Knight.

Don't defend like this!

1.e4 e5
2.Bc4 Bc5
3.Qh5 Nh6
Not the best way to defend because the Knight is open to attack by a White Bishop.
4.d4
White could capture the Pawn on e5 but tries another idea.
4...Bxd4
5.Bxh6
Capturing the Knight which is DEFENDING the mate.
5...gxh6
6.Qxf7# 1-0













This time Black gets it right!

This is how to defend!

1.e4 e5
2.Qh5 Nc6
3.Bc4 g6
Blocking the Queen's attack.
4.Qf3 Nf6
Blocking the Queen's attack again!
5.g4
White plans to drive away the Knight.
5...Nd4
Threatening the White Queen.
6.Qd1
Going back home. If the Queen had gone to e3 Black would have played a KNIGHT FORK: Nxc2+!
6...Nxe4
Capturing a free pawn.
7.f3
Weakening his King's defences.
7...Qh4+
Black scents victory.
8.Kf1 Qf2#
0-1













White tries a different approach.

Defend like this!

1.e4 e5
2.Qh5 Nc6
3.Bc4 g6
Good move!
4.Qf3 Nf6
Good move!
5.Qb3
The Queen tries a third direction.
5...Nd4
6.Qd3
If White had played Bxf7+, Ke7 would have forced the White Queen to move away from defending the Bishop.
6...d5
Make way for the Bishop!
7.exd5 Bf5
Threatening the Queen.
8.Qc3 Bb4
A clever move, threatening the Queen again. Do you see what happens if White takes it?
9.Qxb4 Nxc2+
A KNIGHT FORK!
10.Kd1 Nxb4
Black has won White's Queen.
0-1













Another way to defend is to use your Queen.

Defend like this!

1.e4 e5
2.Bc4 Bc5
Black could also play his Knight to f6 here.
3.Qh5
This is a QUEEN FORK, threatening e5 and f7. Black can DEFEND both THREATS by moving his Queen to e7 or f6.
3...Qf6
4.Bd5
A terrible mistake!
4...Qxf2+
5.Kd1 Qf1#
0-1


All games on this page as PGN here Generated with ChessBase 8.0