<p>The fastest way for Black to mate is</p>

<pre><code>1. f3 e5
2. g4 Qh4# 
</code></pre>

<p>1.f4 is also possible so there are two versions of this.</p>

<p>There are more versions for a fast mate by White:</p>

<pre><code>1. e4 g5
2. d4 f5
3. Qh5#
</code></pre>

<p>Coupled with this f, g pawn advances there is also another neat version
which takes the same amount of moves for White to mate:</p>

<pre><code>1. e4 e5
2. Qh5 Ke7
3. Qxe5#
</code></pre>

<p>Thereby fastest white mate can happen in three moves (precisely 2½
moves) whereas fastest black mate can happen in two moves.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-21T11:30:50.950Z
2013-12-21T11:30:50.950Z
alip
<p>There is a quicker checkmate called the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fool%27s_mate">Fool's Mate</a> which only takes 2 moves. </p>

<p>The moves that demonstrate the checkmate are: </p>

<pre><code>1. f3 e5
2. g4 Qh4# 
</code></pre>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-18T15:33:06.327Z
Also, of course, the fastest mate for White is in 2 1/2 moves (rather than the 3 1/2 given in the opening post) by making a 'blank' move and then following this in reverse: 1. a3 f6, 2. e4 g5, 3. Qh5#.
Steven Stadnicki
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-21T15:27:19.610Z
So 'one move' means 'a move for White then a move for Black'. I did not know that.
Colonel Panic
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-22T13:41:35.283Z
Can this be edited to show the moves on the board itself like some questions on Chess Stack exchange?
ThunderToes
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-18T15:12:26.640Z
2013-06-18T15:12:26.640Z
Colin D
<p>Is the four move check mate <code>(1. e4 e5 2.Qf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5?? 4.Qxf7#)</code> the fastest way to win a game of chess, or is there a quicker way?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-18T15:14:33.637Z
FYI: The checkmate you describe is known as the `scholar's mate`
Colin D
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-18T16:36:31.980Z
@ColinD - Yes, although a slightly unusual move order. The OP has Qf3 on move 2, which is easily countered by Black's Nf6. This is the [Napoleon Opening](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_Opening).
ire_and_curses
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-28T15:16:20.677Z
This question was recently asked on chess.stackexchange: http://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/2509/minimum-moves-to-checkmate
Colin D
<chess>
Is the four move checkmate the fastest way to win a game of chess?
ThunderToes
# Is the four move checkmate the fastest way to win a game of chess?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-06-18)

Is the four move check mate `(1. e4 e5 2.Qf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5?? 4.Qxf7#)` the fastest way to win a game of chess, or is there a quicker way?

**Tags:** chess

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: FYI: The checkmate you describe is known as the `scholar's mate`  
> **username_2**: @username_1 - Yes, although a slightly unusual move order. The OP has Qf3 on move 2, which is easily countered by Black's Nf6. This is the [Napoleon Opening](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_Opening).  
> **username_1**: This question was recently asked on chess.stackexchange: http://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/2509/minimum-moves-to-checkmate  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-06-18. Score: 21 | Accepted answer

There is a quicker checkmate called the [Fool's Mate](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fool%27s_mate) which only takes 2 moves.

The moves that demonstrate the checkmate are:

```
1. f3 e5
2. g4 Qh4# 

```

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Also, of course, the fastest mate for White is in 2 1/2 moves (rather than the 3 1/2 given in the opening post) by making a 'blank' move and then following this in reverse: 1. a3 f6, 2. e4 g5, 3. Qh5#.  
> **username_5**: So 'one move' means 'a move for White then a move for Black'. I did not know that.  
> **username_0**: Can this be edited to show the moves on the board itself like some questions on Chess Stack exchange?  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2013-12-21. Score: 4

The fastest way for Black to mate is

```
1. f3 e5
2. g4 Qh4# 

```

1.f4 is also possible so there are two versions of this.

There are more versions for a fast mate by White:

```
1. e4 g5
2. d4 f5
3. Qh5#

```

Coupled with this f, g pawn advances there is also another neat version
which takes the same amount of moves for White to mate:

```
1. e4 e5
2. Qh5 Ke7
3. Qxe5#

```

Thereby fastest white mate can happen in three moves (precisely 2½
moves) whereas fastest black mate can happen in two moves.


---

