White vs Black
The four-move mate · Traditional · 1–0
A bishop and a queen both aimed at f7, and the one square in the position that nothing but a king defends.
- Opening
- Bishop’s Opening (C23)
- Moves
- 4 (7 half-moves)
- Ends in
- checkmate on Qxf7#
The game, move by move
Both barrels at f7
- 1. e4 King’s pawn
- 1… e5 The same claim
- 2. Bc4 The bishop looks at f7 c4 to f7 is the shortest line to the weakest square in Black’s position, and the bishop is standing on it by move two.
- 2… Nc6 A knight out Perfectly good development, aimed at the centre. It has nothing to say about f7.
- 3. Qh5 The queen joins it Two pieces on one square. h5 eyes e5 as well — but e5 is a pawn Black can defend, and f7 is not.
The wrong defence
- 3… Nf6 Attacking the queen The losing move, and it is a threat. Black develops with tempo and never asks what happens if the queen simply takes.
- 4. Qxf7# Checkmate She takes on f7, held by the bishop on c4, so the king cannot take her back. e7 is hers too; d7, d8 and f8 are Black’s own men. Four moves.
How it ends
Qf7 covers e7, Bc4 covers f7 and Black's own bishop on f8, queen on d8 and pawn on d7 are in the way.
White gave up nothing; Black lost a pawn.
All 135 games, annotated · Find the mate in this one · Play the engine