Mini-

Scholar’s Mate Lesson

Watch for scholar’s mate, then turn things around with good defensive moves
1 2
7888888889 7888888889
8
At the beginning of the 8
game, the “f’ pawn is
4r#b%k!n&6 If white plays Qd1- 4r0b%k!n&6
7
weak as it has only one 4$p$p0p$p6 4$p$p0p$p6
7 h5, note that the
6
defender: the King. 4 0 0 0 06
6 pawn at e5 is under 4 0n0 0 06
5
40 0 $ 0 6
5 attack.
40 0 $ 0Q6
Be watchful of any 4 0 0P0 06
4 4 0 0P0 06
4
Your best defense is 3
attack on this pawn. 40 0 0 0 6
3 40 0 0 0 6
4P*P* *P*6
2
2. … Nb8-c6 4P*P* *P*6
2
A “Double Attack” on 4,N'Q(B)R6
1 4,N' (B)R6
1
the “f” file pawn can be 1222222223
a b c d e f g h 1222222223
a b c d e f g h
very dangerous.

3 4
7888888889 Avoid this mistake! 7888888889 !
When white attacks 8
with 3. Bf1-c4
8
4r0b%k!n&6 If you moved 4r#b%k!n&6
2. … Pg7-g6 without 4$p$p0p0p6
7 7
4$p$p0p$p6
Mate is threatened
6
4 0n0 0 06 defending the e5 pawn 5 4 0 0 0p06
6
with Qh5xf6! Now is
5
40 0 $ 0Q6 first, white can take 40 0 $ 0Q6
the time to counter 4 0B0P0 06 the undefended pawn 4 0 0P0 06
4 4
with 40 0 0 0 6 with Qh5xe5+ resulting 3
3 40 0 0 0 6
in
4P*P* *P*6 the rook.
2 a check and forking 4P*P* *P*6
2
3. … Pg7-g6
4,N' ( )R6
1 4,N' (B)R6
1
1222222223
a b c d e f g h 1222222223
a b c d e f g h

5 6
7888888889
If white starts the attack 8 Scholar’s Mate is just 7888888889
8
with Qd1-f3, there is no 4r#b%k0n&6 one way to take 4r#b% &k06
7
immediate threat. A 4$p$p0p$p6 advantage of the weak
7 4$p$p0p$p6
6
move of Nf6 will block 6 4 0 0 0 06 “f” pawn. There are 4 0 0 # 06
5
the attack. You can 40 0 $ 0 6 other ways.
5 40 ! $ ) 6
move it now or after 4 0 0P0 06
4 4 0B0P0 06
4
another opening move 3 40 0 0Q0 6 Castling can be an 40 0 0 0 6
3
like Nb8-c6. 4P*P* *P*6 effective way to
2 4P*P* *P*6
2
4,N' (B)R6 eliminate the
1 4,N'Q( 0R6
1
1222222223
a b c d e f g h weakness and protect 1222222223
a b c d e f g h
the king.

V2.1 © 2008 Sand castle Productions (C.R. Beach)