In chess, Scholar's Mate is the checkmate achieved by the moves:
- 1. e4 e5
- 2. Qh5 Nc6
- 3. Bc4 Nf6?
- 4. Qxf7#
The moves might be played in a different order or in slight variation, but the basic idea is the same—the queen and bishop combine in a simple mating attack on f7 (or f2 if Black is performing the mate).
Scholar's Mate is sometimes referred to as the "four-move checkmate", although there are other ways to checkmate in four moves.
Read more about Scholar's Mate: Avoiding Scholar's Mate, Openings, Name in Other Languages
Famous quotes containing the words scholar and/or mate:
“The scholar is not apt to make his most familiar experience come gracefully to the aid of his expression.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“The boatswain’s mate was very sedate,
Yet fond of amusement, too;
And he played hopscotch with the starboard watch,
While the captain tickled the crew.”
—Charles Edward Carryl (1841–1920)