The 4-Move Checkmate is a perfect example of this. The 4-Move Checkmate Can Happen to Anyone. According to this post on chess.com, the 4-Move Checkmate is the most common finish to a chess game. Chess corner posted a short game where even Mikhail Tal (who later became world chess champion), succumbed to a variation of the 4-Move Checkmate. Zen Chess: Mate in One. All Discussions Screenshots Artwork Broadcasts Videos News Guides Reviews 0 in Group Chat View Stats. ZenChess: Mate in One is a minimalist chess puzzle game. Solve mate-in-one problems in a beautifully designed chess board. Visit the Store Page. The concept is simple: White targets the f7-square with both their queen and bishop early, in hopes of delivering checkmate in four moves. Here is Scholar's Mate in action: Scholar's Mate happens in only four moves! In order to perform this checkmate, you must start with 1.e4. Come on guy, you may have many solutions to mate in 5 moves, 6, 7 or whatever in this case, but the challenge of this puzzle is to mate in just 4 moves (most puzzles are like this, you may know that), and the only way to solve this problem - no matter what black replies - is 1.
Can you imagine if there was a way to defeat your opponent after just four moves? It turns out that this is a possibility in chess, and it is known as the Scholar's Mate.
Here is what you need to know about the Scholar's Mate:
What Is The Scholar's Mate?
The Scholar's Mate is one of the most well-known checkmating patterns among chess players. It ends the game after only four moves by attacking the weak f-pawn with a bishop and a queen. The f7-pawn is considered weak because it is solely defended by the king, and for this reason it is a common target in many opening traps.
Like the Fool's Mate, it is one of the fastest ways a player can checkmate their opponent in chess. It occurs after 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 (targeting f7) Nc6 3.Qh5 (adding another attacker to the f7-pawn) Nf6?? 4.Qxf7#.
The Scholar's Mate is common among beginners, and most players have fallen for it or won a game with it at one point in their lives. It is rare to see intermediate or advanced players attempting this attack since it is easy to defend against and can lead to a worse position if it fails.
Sometimes, though, even professional players try to use it, especially in fast time-controls. Below, you can see an international master going for a Scholar's Mate against World Champion Magnus Carlsen during a Titled Tuesday tournament from 2017 on Chess.com.
How To Defend Against The Scholar's Mate
If you are familiar with the Scholar's Mate and you notice your opponent is trying to use it against you, it is quite easy to defend against it. There are three main options to avoid falling victim to it. Let's look at them one by one. Remember, this is our starting position:
The move g6 is the most sensible response to the threat of a Scholar's Mate. It frees up the g7-square for Black to fianchetto their bishop to create a solid structure on the kingside and to put the dark-squared bishop on its longest diagonal. It also starts clearing the way for Black to castle. Besides all of that, it wins a tempo because it threatens the white queen, forcing White to move their lady away from danger.
Another option to defend against this attack is to move your queen to the e7-square. This move protects the f7-pawn, develops the queen, and adds another defender to the e5-pawn. This move comes with two drawbacks: it blocks the dark-squared bishop and brings out the queen too early.
Finally, another way of protecting yourself from this mating threat is to move your queen to the f6-square. This maneuver achieves similar defensive goals as the last move. Unfortunately, like the previous option, it creates difficulties for one of your minor pieces to develop and exposes your queen, so it is not the most recommended response.
When defending against this mate, it is essential not to fall for some common traps. The diagram below shows a few of those traps and how to defend against them.
Although the promise of a four-move checkmate seems appealing, it is also risky to go for it in a game. If White is not careful, Black can exploit the fact that the white queen is vulnerable to gain a lead in development.
Test Your Skills
Now that you are familiar with the Scholar's Mate, let's see if you can use it to win a game and also defend against it. Solve the puzzles below to check if you are ready to handle this sort of position when playing chess.
Zen Chess: Mate In Four Ways
Puzzle 01: You are playing as White, and you want to deliver a Scholar's Mate. Can you do it?
Puzzle 02: Your opponent is trying to end the game quickly and goes for a mating attack against you. Can you defend yourself against it, prepare to develop your dark-squared bishop, and take advantage of White's imprecise play?
Conclusion
You now know about one of the most common checkmates in chess. You can identify it, use it, and defend yourself against it efficiently. Head over to our Lessons page to learn other checkmating patterns so you can win more games!
Related Chess Terms
You’ll find hundreds of puzzles in Zen Chess Collection. What you won’t find is an actual full-game of chess. It’s a curious omission. How does it impact this release?
Thankfully, Zen Chess Collection doesn’t cost much. It’s regularly $3.99 but I purchased it for just 99 cents as part of its launch sale. At that price, I can tolerate omissions, especially since I find many of its challenges enjoyable.
Zen Chess Collection is “designed for experienced chess players and newcomers alike.” There’s no tutorial, so maybe ‘advanced’ newcomers if that makes any sense. Certainly, the mate in one puzzles are good for chess newbies with just a basic grasp, and my recommended starting point. But those more familiar with the game can try the mate in two, three, or four challenges. The game is non-linear in that way, to its benefit, although actual levels in each category still need to be unlocked.
What’s not to its benefit is the presentation, particularly the graphics. My expectations were already low, having seen screenshots. But with only two types of pieces, a single camera view, and a plain board against plain backdrops Zen Chess Collection is a drab game to look at. It’s very minimalist, delivering the essentials but nothing beyond.
The soundtrack fares better, with appropriate tunes. I’m not sure they actually “increase your focus and concentration” as claimed, but I enjoy them. The in-game volume defaults at a soft level so adjust it up or wear headphones if playing Zen Chess Collection in handheld mode.
I am concerned about seeing the “More game modes” box in the corner of the main menu. It directs you to the eShop, although there is no DLC at present. I hope Zen Chess Collection doesn’t take the route of Chess Ultra that now has lots of overpriced DLC. At least this game isn’t buggy, like the former. If DLC is added, I’d suggest more background and piece options, a tutorial, and an actual game of chess, sensibly priced.
Zen Chess: Mate In Four Languages
Zen Chess is inexpensive and has many enjoyable puzzles for chess fans. But its drab presentation, coupled with no means to play a regular game of chess holds it back. How can you “Become a Chessmaster!” when you can’t play a full game? Thus, what should be a pretty broad recommendation becomes narrower, making Zen Chess Collection just an okay release.