The Scholar's Mate

The queen and bishop both aim at f7, which only the king defends.

Opening: Italian / King's Pawn. Set by White. Level: Beginner.

The moves

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Qh5 Nf6 4.Qxf7#

The mistake: Black plays Nf6 (1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Qh5 Nf6)

It only works after a mistake

Black must play Nf6 for it to work. Against a careful opponent the early queen move achieves little and the queen can be chased with gain of time.

Final position after 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Qh5 Nf6 4.Qxf7#

How to avoid it

g6 or Qe7 defends f7.

Practise setting and escaping it