The Scholar's Mate

Part of the Fundamentals section of Coddy's Chess journey. Lesson 45 of 46.

Every beginner meets the four-move trap, so meet it here first. The target is f7, the one square only the king defends. Learn the trap so you can stop it. Do not build your own games on it.

Try it yourselfBeginner

Position 1 of 7

WatchWatch the trap catch someone.

The starting position.

0 / 7

All 7 positions

All lessons in Fundamentals

1The Board

Meet the Board Files and Ranks Naming Squares Setting Up Recap: The Board

4The King and the Pawn

The King The Pawn Pawn Captures The First Double Step Recap: King and Pawn

7Special Moves

Castling When You Cannot Castle Promotion En Passant Recap: Special Moves

2The Sliding Pieces

The Rook The Bishop The Queen Blocked Paths Recap: Sliding Pieces

5Captures and Check

How Captures Work What Pieces Are Worth Check Three Ways Out Moves You Cannot Play Recap: Check

8Writing Moves Down

Reading Moves Takes, Check and Mate Which Knight?Reading a Game Recap: Written Moves

3The Knight

The Knight's Jump Jumping Over Pieces Knights on the Rim Recap: The Knight

6Checkmate and Draws

Checkmate The Back Rank Mate With Two Rooks Stalemate Other Draws Recap: Checkmate

9Your First Game

Control the Centre Get Your Pieces Out Castle EarlyThe Scholar's MateProject: The Opening