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 it to spring it once, and to stop it forever. Do not build your 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