Scholars Mate

Scholar’s Mate

The three squares where you can approach the Black
King are d7, e7 and f7

How many
Black pieces

are

defending
d7, e7 and

f7?

White starts by playing the move e4 and Black plays
e5. That should give you the following position

White continues by moving the Queen to h5

Black continues by moving the Knight to c6

protecting the pawn on e5

White moves Bc4 and Black continues by moving
Nf6. Is this a good move for Black?

No, it was not a good move for Black. White

delivers check mate by playing Qxf7

What about this position. Is this CHECKMATE?

What about this position. Is this CHECKMATE?

What about this position. Is this CHECKMATE?

There's another trap Black can fall into as well.
Let’s go back to the position after White's just

moved his Queen.

This time, Black's played g6, to THREATEN the

White Queen. How can White respond to that move?

White takes a FREE PAWN and CHECKS the Black King. Black

cannot move his King, but it's not CHECKMATE. He can

BLOCK the check by putting a piece on e7, Queen, Bishop or

Knight

Let’s suppose Black plays Be7. How can White

respond to that move?