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Scholar's Mate?

Scholar's Mate?

Only Chess

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I don't understand Black's move number 5.

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@fmf said
[pgn][Event "Challenge"]
[Site "https://www.redhotpawn.com"]
[Date "2017.03.05"]
[EndDate "2017.03.05"]
[Round "?"]
[White "josephw"]
[Black "SecondSon"]
[WhiteRating "1677"]
[BlackRating "1389"]
[WhiteElo "1677"]
[BlackElo "1389"]
[Result "1-0"]
[GameId "12117517"]

1. e4 e5 2. Qd1f3 Bf8d6 3. Bf1c4 Ng8h6 4. d4 g5 5. Qf3h5 Nh6g8 6. Qh5xf7 1-0[/pgn]

I don't understand Black's move number 5.
Probably black saw the imidiate danger for their Knight and reacted fast...The better move would have been to put the bishop back of course.


@ponderable said
Probably black saw the imidiate danger for their Knight and reacted fast...The better move would have been to put the bishop back of course.
On ...Bf8, Bxg5 looks pretty strong. Black must be lost already.

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@bigdoggproblem said
On ...Bf8, Bxg5 looks pretty strong. Black must be lost already.
You of course are right...I tried to answer the original question, feeling qualified with my rating, which suggests that I (at least sometimes) move without having thought too much....

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@ponderable said
You of course are right...I tried to answer the original question, feeling qualified with my rating, which suggests that I (at least sometimes) move without having thought too much....
Don't feel bad... Black's position is simply beyond salvation. The moves 2...Bd6? and 3...Nh6? are what truly lost the game.

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@BigDoggProblem
Except black just takes the bishop for free and still protects the knight.

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In passing I mention this stat in Blog Post 400

So far in 2018 there have been 480 checkmates in six or less moves.
and since 2001 there have been over 3,000 checkmates in six moves .

Most were Scholars Mate.

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@sonhouse said
@BigDoggProblem
Except black just takes the bishop for free and still protects the knight.
The Q on h5 protects g5.

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@bigdoggproblem said
The Q on h5 protects g5.
Yep, black is screwed no matter what. If bishop goes back home to protect the knight, white takes pawn with bishop, attacking queen and knight, goodbye charlie. if he moves bishop to protect queen, knight goes bye bye and mate is still on . The only move left is castle but the won't last long.....

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