Answers.Body: <p>For a short mating possibility in a very standard mainline opening, one can look to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caro-Kann_Defence#Smyslov_.2F_Karpov_.2F_Modern_Variation">Smyslov-Karpov variation</a> in the Caro-Kann Defense:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN ""]
  [Result "1-0"]
  1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Qe2 Ngf6?? 6.Nd6#
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The most popular continuations are <code>5. Nf3</code>, <code>5. Bc4</code> and <code>5. Ng5</code> (an aggressive try which Kasparov assayed a number of times against Karpov). The sneaky try <code>5. Qe2</code> just sets up a pin against Black's e-pawn, making the intended followup <code>5... Ngf6??</code> unplayable.</p>
  
  <p>There are a mere 271 games in my database (out of several million) in which this 5. Qe2 appears, but one finds a few GMs giving it a go: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Radulov">Ivan Radulov</a>, <a href="http://www.chessgames.com/player/oleg_nikolenko.html">Oleg Nikolenko</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Gallagher">Joe Gallagher</a> (against as strong an opponent as IM <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibor_K%C3%A1rolyi_%28chess_player%29">Tibor Karolyi</a>), even some guy named <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Alekhine">Alekhine</a> (though, admittedly, only in a consultation game against a team of four amateurs). A 2300 player also tried it out against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasser_Seirawan">Yasser Seirawan</a> on the black side; Seirawan didn't fall into the trap of course, but the 2300 did manage to get a draw out of the game.</p>
  
  <p>If you're still reading, you're probably curious: out of the 271 games I have on record, in only 34 of them did black fall into the trap with <code>5... Ngf6</code>. Alekhine's amateur foes were among the victims, and the highest rated victim was in a game Hans Speck (2140) - Nikolaus Mertens (2165) from the 1997 Liechtenstein Open. <strong>Most interestingly</strong>, on two of those 34 occasions, the white player failed to reply with <code>6. Nd6#</code>. One was a player rated 1873 who went on to lose to his 2202 opponent; the other was rated 2264(!) and managed to win anyway against a 2113 on the black side.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-08-18T22:05:05.073Z
Answers.Text: This is an exact game sequence between GM Rapport and a 2050 odd player a few weeks ago. I can't imagine the horror.
Answers.UserDisplayName: RingMaster
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-05-26T20:20:08.597Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-11-01T14:19:25.570Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2012-11-01T14:19:25.570Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: ETD
Answers.Body: <p>A mate in 2½ move, derived from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayward_Queen_Attack" rel="noreferrer">Wayward Queen Attack</a>, occurs if black moves Ke7 as a panic attempt to "protect" the e5 pawn with the king, which may occur if young players move too quickly:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN ""]
  
  1. e4 e5 
  2. Qh5 Ke7 
  3. Qe5#
  </code></pre>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-12-29T06:30:16.370Z
Answers.Text: The king must have super powers to protect that pawn XD
Answers.UserDisplayName: ferit
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-12-11T10:28:02.263Z
Answers.Text: Step 1: touch the king and forget to say "j'adoube".
Answers.UserDisplayName: Federico Poloni
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-12-11T10:43:58.827Z
Answers.Text: ["j'adoube"](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/j%27adoube): To adjust
Answers.UserDisplayName: Morten Zilmer
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-05-11T11:32:26.287Z
Answers.Text: @FedericoPoloni Yes, The correct procedure is: 1. e4 e5 (very reasonable moves). Then, while playing 2. Qh5, make a big circular movement which "accidentally" topples the black king. It is very likely that many black players would forget to say j'adoube in such a situation before placing the king upright again.
Answers.UserDisplayName: user1583209
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-06-09T15:27:32.787Z
Answers.Text: This is also probably more common than you may think, in older games. I seem to recall the penalty for an illegal move was at one stage to move the king
Answers.UserDisplayName: sjb-2812
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-04-06T20:28:27.133Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-12-29T07:30:16.810Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2015-12-29T07:30:16.810Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Morten Zilmer
Answers.Body: <p>The Blackburne-Shilling Gambit could result in a quick loss for White if he plays some fairly plausible moves:</p>
  <p>1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 {Italian opening} Nd4 4.Nxe5 {Free pawn!} Qg5 5.Nxf7 {Forking the queen and rook.} Qxg2 6.Rf1 {Preventing Qxh1} Qxe4+ 7.Be2 {Qe2 Nxe2 drops the queen} Nf3#</p>
  <pre><code>[FEN &quot;&quot;]
  1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 {Italian opening} Nd4 4.Nxe5 {Free pawn!} Qg5 5.Nxf7 {Forking the queen and rook.} Qxg2 6.Rf1 {Preventing Qxh1} Qxe4+ 7.Be2 {Qe2 Nxe2 drops the queen} Nf3#  0-1
  </code></pre>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-12-11T11:40:01.763Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2021-10-26T11:24:53.217Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2021-10-26T11:24:53.217Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: D M
Answers.Body: <pre><code>[FEN "nbqnbrkr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NBQNBRKR w KQkq - 0 1"]
  [StartPly "3"]
  
  1. d3 {Pyt Honisten eröffnet mit seinem Lieblingsbauern} g5 {Retho Riker antwortet mit seiner Standard-Antwort} 2. Qxg5# {Pyt Honisten ging zum nächsten Brett, während sich Retho Riker tränenreich vom Schach verabschiedete.}
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>With Chess960, also known as Fisher Random Chess, you can achieve it, too.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-09-30T17:43:39.290Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-07-05T15:27:47.577Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2019-07-05T15:27:47.577Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: L'Fish
Answers.Body: <p>There's a 2-move checkmate, termed <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFKxKviVL1I" rel="nofollow noreferrer">fool's mate</a>:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <ol>
    <li>f3 e5 2. g4 Qh4#</li>
    </ol>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fool%27s_mate" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Fool's mate on Wikipedia</a></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-05-27T14:10:25.353Z
Answers.Text: I played Fool's Mate when I was in the 7th or 8th grade.  I decided that the chess match against a neighboring school was a really good time to "invent a new opening."  I was wrong.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-11-29T18:56:11.957Z
Answers.Text: I also lost to it in my bizarre-paws-opening period, a careless day :D (as a 1900 ^^)
Answers.UserDisplayName: Nikana Reklawyks
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-05-24T05:37:53.923Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-03-03T19:43:24.127Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2020-03-03T19:43:24.127Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Caffeinated
Answers.Body: <p>To add to the Fool's Mate idea, this game left enough of an impression on me to remember it.</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN ""]
  1. d4 f5 2. Bg5 {An enterprising line, threatening to weaken Black's pawn structure after the natural Nf6.} h6 3. Bh4 g5!? {This seems to trap the bishop, but the holes around the Black king are very dangerous. It is objectively OK, but only if Black does not play to win material.} 4. Bg3 f4? {This move is a definite mistake.} 5. e3! {Now fxg3 leads to Qh5#, and White threatens to rescue his bishop with exf4} h5 {Renewing the threat, now 6. exf4 h4 and the bishop is still trapped} 6. Bd3 {Objectively this move isn't the best, but it threatens Bg6#} Rh6?? 7. Qxh5+! Rxh5 8. Bg6#
  </code></pre>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-05-02T07:28:39.150Z
Answers.Text: This is the [Teed vs Delmar](https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1242990) game (1896).
Answers.UserDisplayName: Cyriac Antony
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-12-11T03:31:58.773Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-05-11T11:02:57.397Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2019-05-11T11:02:57.397Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Allure
Answers.Body: <pre><code>[FEN ""]
  
  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. Nc3 axb5 6. e4 b4 7. Nb5 Nxe4 8. Qe2 Nf6 9. Nd6#
  </code></pre>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-08-20T05:32:37.360Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-08-20T08:17:43.100Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2014-08-20T08:17:43.100Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: MichalRyszardWojcik
Answers.Body: <p>The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest_Gambit#Kieninger_Trap" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Kieninger Trap</a> in the Budapest gambit has trapped numerous amateurs but even some masters over the years. It involves a similar mating pattern to those found in some of the other answers. There are only so many ways to blunder a king early in the game.</p>
  <p>1.d4 Nf6
  2.c4 e5
  3.dxe5 Ng4
  4.Bf4 Nc6
  5.Nf3 Bb4+
  6.Nbd2 Qe7
  7.a3 Ngxe5
  8.axb4 Nd3#</p>
  <pre><code>[FEN &quot;&quot;]
  1.d4 Nf6 
  2.c4 e5 
  3.dxe5 Ng4 
  4.Bf4 Nc6 
  5.Nf3 Bb4+ 
  6.Nbd2 Qe7 
  7.a3 Ngxe5 
  8.axb4 Nd3# 
  </code></pre>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-02-27T16:53:47.327Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2021-10-26T11:15:57.153Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2021-10-26T11:15:57.153Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: John Coleman
Answers.Body: <p>Here’s a simple example which I always like.</p>
  <pre><code>[FEN &quot;&quot;]
  1. d4 e5 2. Bg5 Qxg5 3. Qc1 Qxc1#
  </code></pre>
  <br/>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-02-27T16:50:38.927Z
Answers.Text: Yes thanks for pointing it out! Ok changed to another short one
Answers.UserDisplayName: Laska
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2022-01-09T13:44:10.680Z
Answers.Text: Well, 2 Bg5 is quite a bad blunder. White needn't hang wQ & allow mate, but Black has an advantage whatever White plays.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Rosie F
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-02-27T07:13:38.123Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2021-02-28T00:19:40.757Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2021-02-28T00:19:40.757Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Laska
Answers.Body: <p>Légal's mate, which <a href="https://chess.stackexchange.com/a/585">Andrew mentioned</a>, can also occur in the Italian Opening, with a move order which is perhaps more credible:</p>
  <p>1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 d6 4. Nc3 Bg4? 5. h3 Bh5? 6. Nxe5! Bxd1? 7. Bxf7+! Ke7 8. Nd5#.</p>
  <p>Black has a similar trap in the Petrov:</p>
  <p>1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6? 4. Nxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bc5 6. Bg5? Nxe4! 7. Bxd8? Bxf2+ 8. Ke2 Bg4#.</p>
  <p><a href="https://chess.stackexchange.com/a/34308">John Coleman mentioned</a> the Kieninger Trap, a Black trap in in the Budapest gambit. White has two traps in the Caro-Kann that are similar to this:</p>
  <p>1.e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 {Nf6 is better} 5. Qe2?! Ngf6? 5. Nd6#</p>
  <p>This also works after 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-10-26T11:08:03.603Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2022-01-09T12:39:32.683Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2022-01-09T12:39:32.683Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Rosie F
Answers.Body: <p>Against the Bird Opening (1.f4), black can play the From Gambit which threatens a kind of fool's mate:</p>
  <pre><code>[FEN &quot;&quot;]
  
  1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 Bxd6 4.Nc3? Qh4+ 5.g3 Qxg3+ 6.hxg3 Bxg3#
  </code></pre>
  <p>Instead of 4.Nc3, which is just an example move, 4.d4 and 4.g3 are common.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-02-27T20:55:20.067Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2021-02-27T20:55:20.067Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: RemcoGerlich
Answers.Body: <p>There are probably as many quick mates as there have been first time players (since we all get caught in these at the start!) but here are a few common ones:</p>
  <h2>Fool's Mate</h2>
  <p>This is the shortest possible checkmate in a mere two moves:</p>
  <p>1.f4 e5 2. g4 Qh4#</p>
  <pre><code>[FEN &quot;&quot;]
  
  1. f4 e5 2. g4 Qh4# 0-1
  </code></pre>
  <br />
  White can also play f3 instead of f4 or move the g pawn before the f pawn.
  <h2>Scholar's Mate</h2>
  <p>This mating pattern is also sometimes referred to as &quot;Fool's Mate&quot; and there are two main patterns:</p>
  <p>1.e4 e5 2. Bc4 (2. Qh5 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Qxf7#) Nc6 3. Qf3 Bc5 4. Qxf7#</p>
  <pre><code>[FEN &quot;&quot;]
  
  1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 (2. Qh5 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Qxf7#) Nc6 3. Qf3 Bc5 4. Qxf7# 1-0
  </code></pre>
  <br />
  The key is that f7 is insufficiently defended and mate is delivered there.
  <h2>Légal's Mate</h2>
  <p>Légal's Mate (also spelled as Légall's Mate) is probably the mate referenced in the question:</p>
  <p>1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6 4.Nc3 Bg4  5.h3 Bh5? 6.Nxe5! Bxd1?? 7.Bxf7+ Ke7 8.Nd5#</p>
  <pre><code>[FEN &quot;&quot;]
  
  1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6 4.Nc3 Bg4  
  5.h3 Bh5? 6.Nxe5! Bxd1?? 7.Bxf7+ Ke7 8.Nd5# 1-0
  </code></pre>
  
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-11-18T08:48:53.763Z
Answers.Text: Legal's mate is quite cute. Isn't it?
Answers.UserDisplayName: rpattabi
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-04-08T12:06:56.063Z
Answers.Text: Légal's Mate is the smartest mate on this page, I never thought about it. I could've mated at least 30 opponents with it! Damn I should have read your answer long ago.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Lynob
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-08-29T12:33:07.740Z
Answers.Text: After `6.Nxe5` black can reply with `6...Nxe5!` which nets out to the loss of a pawn after `7.Qxh5 Nxc4 8.Qb5+`.  If white omits `5.h3`, then the black knight on e5 will defend the bishop on g4 and white will be down a piece.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Andrew
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-05-24T06:51:06.773Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2021-10-26T11:12:01.000Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2021-10-26T11:12:01.000Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Andrew
Body: <p>I would like to learn about a few checkmates using very few moves. I know one where you develop the knight and march it directly towards the King. Does anyone know the name of this mate and suggest others?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2012-05-24T14:38:20.683Z
Comments.Text: If you know the mate you're thinking about, can you post the moves?
Comments.UserDisplayName: Daniel
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2018-03-29T17:00:48.873Z
Comments.Text: @Daniel why did you change the wordings of the question ? #Admin why are folks editing the questions for no reason ?
Comments.UserDisplayName: Jay D
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2019-05-11T17:41:30.910Z
Comments.Text: 1. e4 e5 2. Qh5 Ke7 3.Qxe5#
Comments.UserDisplayName: Inertial Ignorance
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2021-02-27T07:56:58.987Z
Comments.Text: 1.e4 Nc6 2.Ne2 Ne5 3.c3 Nd3# or something like this might be the mate you refer to in the question, but it is too silly to have a name.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Hauke Reddmann
Tags: <checkmate><patterns>
Title: What are some checkmates with very few moves from the starting position?
ThreadText: # What are some checkmates with very few moves from the starting position?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2012-05-24)
  
  I would like to learn about a few checkmates using very few moves. I know one where you develop the knight and march it directly towards the King. Does anyone know the name of this mate and suggest others?
  
  **Tags:** checkmate, patterns
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: If you know the mate you're thinking about, can you post the moves?  
  > **username_0**: @username_1 why did you change the wordings of the question ? #Admin why are folks editing the questions for no reason ?  
  > **username_2**: 1. e4 e5 2. Qh5 Ke7 3.Qxe5#  
  > **username_3**: 1.e4 Nc6 2.Ne2 Ne5 3.c3 Nd3# or something like this might be the mate you refer to in the question, but it is too silly to have a name.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 12 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_23 on 2012-05-24. Score: 47 | Accepted answer
  
  There are probably as many quick mates as there have been first time players (since we all get caught in these at the start!) but here are a few common ones:
  
  ## Fool's Mate
  
  This is the shortest possible checkmate in a mere two moves:
  
  1.f4 e5 2. g4 Qh4#
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  
  1. f4 e5 2. g4 Qh4# 0-1
  
  ```
  
    
  White can also play f3 instead of f4 or move the g pawn before the f pawn.
  
  ## Scholar's Mate
  
  This mating pattern is also sometimes referred to as "Fool's Mate" and there are two main patterns:
  
  1.e4 e5 2. Bc4 (2. Qh5 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Qxf7#) Nc6 3. Qf3 Bc5 4. Qxf7#
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  
  1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 (2. Qh5 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Qxf7#) Nc6 3. Qf3 Bc5 4. Qxf7# 1-0
  
  ```
  
    
  The key is that f7 is insufficiently defended and mate is delivered there.
  
  ## Légal's Mate
  
  Légal's Mate (also spelled as Légall's Mate) is probably the mate referenced in the question:
  
  1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6 4.Nc3 Bg4 5.h3 Bh5? 6.Nxe5! Bxd1?? 7.Bxf7+ Ke7 8.Nd5#
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  
  1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6 4.Nc3 Bg4  
  5.h3 Bh5? 6.Nxe5! Bxd1?? 7.Bxf7+ Ke7 8.Nd5# 1-0
  
  ```
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_24**: Legal's mate is quite cute. Isn't it?  
  > **username_25**: Légal's Mate is the smartest mate on this page, I never thought about it. I could've mated at least 30 opponents with it! Damn I should have read your answer long ago.  
  > **username_23**: After `6.Nxe5` black can reply with `6...Nxe5!` which nets out to the loss of a pawn after `7.Qxh5 Nxc4 8.Qb5+`.  If white omits `5.h3`, then the black knight on e5 will defend the bishop on g4 and white will be down a piece.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2012-05-26. Score: 33
  
  For a short mating possibility in a very standard mainline opening, one can look to the [Smyslov-Karpov variation](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caro-Kann_Defence#Smyslov_.2F_Karpov_.2F_Modern_Variation) in the Caro-Kann Defense:
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  [Result "1-0"]
  1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Qe2 Ngf6?? 6.Nd6#
  
  ```
  
  The most popular continuations are `5. Nf3`, `5. Bc4` and `5. Ng5` (an aggressive try which Kasparov assayed a number of times against Karpov). The sneaky try `5. Qe2` just sets up a pin against Black's e-pawn, making the intended followup `5... Ngf6??` unplayable.
  
  There are a mere 271 games in my database (out of several million) in which this 5. Qe2 appears, but one finds a few GMs giving it a go: [Ivan Radulov](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Radulov), [Oleg Nikolenko](http://www.chessgames.com/player/oleg_nikolenko.html), [Joe Gallagher](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Gallagher) (against as strong an opponent as IM [Tibor Karolyi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibor_K%C3%A1rolyi_%28chess_player%29)), even some guy named [Alekhine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Alekhine) (though, admittedly, only in a consultation game against a team of four amateurs). A 2300 player also tried it out against [Yasser Seirawan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasser_Seirawan) on the black side; Seirawan didn't fall into the trap of course, but the 2300 did manage to get a draw out of the game.
  
  If you're still reading, you're probably curious: out of the 271 games I have on record, in only 34 of them did black fall into the trap with `5... Ngf6`. Alekhine's amateur foes were among the victims, and the highest rated victim was in a game Hans Speck (2140) - Nikolaus Mertens (2165) from the 1997 Liechtenstein Open. **Most interestingly**, on two of those 34 occasions, the white player failed to reply with `6. Nd6#`. One was a player rated 1873 who went on to lose to his 2202 opponent; the other was rated 2264(!) and managed to win anyway against a 2113 on the black side.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_5**: This is an exact game sequence between GM Rapport and a 2050 odd player a few weeks ago. I can't imagine the horror.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2014-04-06. Score: 14
  
  A mate in 2½ move, derived from [Wayward Queen Attack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayward_Queen_Attack), occurs if black moves Ke7 as a panic attempt to "protect" the e5 pawn with the king, which may occur if young players move too quickly:
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  
  1. e4 e5 
  2. Qh5 Ke7 
  3. Qe5#
  
  ```
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_7**: The king must have super powers to protect that pawn XD  
  > **username_8**: Step 1: touch the king and forget to say "j'adoube".  
  > **username_6**: ["j'adoube"](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/j%27adoube): To adjust  
  > **username_9**: @username_8 Yes, The correct procedure is: 1. e4 e5 (very reasonable moves). Then, while playing 2. Qh5, make a big circular movement which "accidentally" topples the black king. It is very likely that many black players would forget to say j'adoube in such a situation before placing the king upright again.  
  > **username_10**: This is also probably more common than you may think, in older games. I seem to recall the penalty for an illegal move was at one stage to move the king  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_11 on 2018-12-11. Score: 12
  
  The Blackburne-Shilling Gambit could result in a quick loss for White if he plays some fairly plausible moves:
  
  1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 {Italian opening} Nd4 4.Nxe5 {Free pawn!} Qg5 5.Nxf7 {Forking the queen and rook.} Qxg2 6.Rf1 {Preventing Qxh1} Qxe4+ 7.Be2 {Qe2 Nxe2 drops the queen} Nf3#
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 {Italian opening} Nd4 4.Nxe5 {Free pawn!} Qg5 5.Nxf7 {Forking the queen and rook.} Qxg2 6.Rf1 {Preventing Qxh1} Qxe4+ 7.Be2 {Qe2 Nxe2 drops the queen} Nf3#  0-1
  
  ```
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_12 on 2015-09-30. Score: 12
  
  ```
  [FEN "nbqnbrkr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NBQNBRKR w KQkq - 0 1"]
  [StartPly "3"]
  
  1. d3 {Pyt Honisten eröffnet mit seinem Lieblingsbauern} g5 {Retho Riker antwortet mit seiner Standard-Antwort} 2. Qxg5# {Pyt Honisten ging zum nächsten Brett, während sich Retho Riker tränenreich vom Schach verabschiedete.}
  
  ```
  
  With Chess960, also known as Fisher Random Chess, you can achieve it, too.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_13 on 2012-05-24. Score: 8
  
  There's a 2-move checkmate, termed [fool's mate](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFKxKviVL1I):
  
  > 1. f3 e5 2. g4 Qh4#
  
  [Fool's mate on Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fool%27s_mate)
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_14**: I played Fool's Mate when I was in the 7th or 8th grade.  I decided that the chess match against a neighboring school was a really good time to "invent a new opening."  I was wrong.  
  > **username_15**: I also lost to it in my bizarre-paws-opening period, a careless day :D (as a 1900 ^^)  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_16 on 2018-12-11. Score: 7
  
  To add to the Fool's Mate idea, this game left enough of an impression on me to remember it.
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  1. d4 f5 2. Bg5 {An enterprising line, threatening to weaken Black's pawn structure after the natural Nf6.} h6 3. Bh4 g5!? {This seems to trap the bishop, but the holes around the Black king are very dangerous. It is objectively OK, but only if Black does not play to win material.} 4. Bg3 f4? {This move is a definite mistake.} 5. e3! {Now fxg3 leads to Qh5#, and White threatens to rescue his bishop with exf4} h5 {Renewing the threat, now 6. exf4 h4 and the bishop is still trapped} 6. Bd3 {Objectively this move isn't the best, but it threatens Bg6#} Rh6?? 7. Qxh5+! Rxh5 8. Bg6#
  
  ```
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_17**: This is the [Teed vs Delmar](https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1242990) game (1896).  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_18 on 2014-08-20. Score: 7
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  
  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. Nc3 axb5 6. e4 b4 7. Nb5 Nxe4 8. Qe2 Nf6 9. Nd6#
  
  ```
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_19 on 2021-02-27. Score: 4
  
  The [Kieninger Trap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest_Gambit#Kieninger_Trap) in the Budapest gambit has trapped numerous amateurs but even some masters over the years. It involves a similar mating pattern to those found in some of the other answers. There are only so many ways to blunder a king early in the game.
  
  1.d4 Nf6
  2.c4 e5
  3.dxe5 Ng4
  4.Bf4 Nc6
  5.Nf3 Bb4+
  6.Nbd2 Qe7
  7.a3 Ngxe5
  8.axb4 Nd3#
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  1.d4 Nf6 
  2.c4 e5 
  3.dxe5 Ng4 
  4.Bf4 Nc6 
  5.Nf3 Bb4+ 
  6.Nbd2 Qe7 
  7.a3 Ngxe5 
  8.axb4 Nd3# 
  
  ```
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_20 on 2021-02-27. Score: 3
  
  Here’s a simple example which I always like.
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  1. d4 e5 2. Bg5 Qxg5 3. Qc1 Qxc1#
  
  ```
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_20**: Yes thanks for pointing it out! Ok changed to another short one  
  > **username_21**: Well, 2 Bg5 is quite a bad blunder. White needn't hang wQ & allow mate, but Black has an advantage whatever White plays.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_21 on 2021-10-26. Score: 3
  
  Légal's mate, which [username_23 mentioned](https://chess.stackexchange.com/a/585), can also occur in the Italian Opening, with a move order which is perhaps more credible:
  
  1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 d6 4. Nc3 Bg4? 5. h3 Bh5? 6. Nxe5! Bxd1? 7. Bxf7+! Ke7 8. Nd5#.
  
  Black has a similar trap in the Petrov:
  
  1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6? 4. Nxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bc5 6. Bg5? Nxe4! 7. Bxd8? Bxf2+ 8. Ke2 Bg4#.
  
  [username_19 username_19 mentioned](https://chess.stackexchange.com/a/34308) the Kieninger Trap, a Black trap in in the Budapest gambit. White has two traps in the Caro-Kann that are similar to this:
  
  1.e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 {Nf6 is better} 5. Qe2?! Ngf6? 5. Nd6#
  
  This also works after 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_22 on 2021-02-27. Score: 3
  
  Against the Bird Opening (1.f4), black can play the From Gambit which threatens a kind of fool's mate:
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  
  1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 Bxd6 4.Nc3? Qh4+ 5.g3 Qxg3+ 6.hxg3 Bxg3#
  
  ```
  
  Instead of 4.Nc3, which is just an example move, 4.d4 and 4.g3 are common.
  
  
  ---
  
  