What is Fool's Mate?

Fool's Mate

Fastest checkmate, achieved in two moves due to poor opening play by the opponent, typically involving the queen.

Fool's Mate is the quickest possible checkmate in the game of chess. It occurs after only two moves by each player and ends in checkmate by black on the second move.
  

This checkmate is rare in practice because it relies on extraordinarily weak play from the white side.

Board is interactive - move a piece

White moves pawn to f3. This move is considered weak because it does not contribute much to control of the center of the board, does not allow the knight or bishop to be developed, and notably weakens white's kingside. Black responds by moving pawn to e5, taking control of the center and preparing to develop the bishop and queen.

White then moves pawn to g4, which is another weak move. This further weakens white’s king's safety by leaving the f2-pawn unprotected. Black seizes this opportunity by moving the queen to h4. This is checkmate because the white king is under threat by the black queen, and it cannot be removed from threat.
 

 

The term Fool's Mate is sometimes used more broadly to describe other early checkmates, fewer than ten moves, before the middle game has started.

Checkmate Patterns : Fool's Mate Explained

Fool's Mate

This checkmate is rare in practice because it relies on extraordinarily weak play from the white side.

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