Play Chess Openings: Checkmate: Five Quick Fool's Mates for Black

Friday, November 4, 2011

Checkmate: Five Quick Fool's Mates for Black

You cannot force a Fool's Mate. You just have to notice that your opponent allows it and you win. What you are looking for as Black is a weakness in the diagonal h4-e1 early in the game when the White king is still on its original square.

Usually, White plays 1.e4 or 1.d4 and there is no Fool's Mate likely. However if one of White's early pawn moves is with the f-pawn, g-pawn, or h-pawn, possibilities open up. Here are five examples that occurred in my own games.

My Checkmate Tactics book has the best 500 opening mates.
My Combination Tactics book has the best 500 ways to win material.

What happens with premature kingside expansion? Permanent king elimination.
BabyBach-Sawyer begins 1.g4 d5 2.f4 e5 3.Nc3

3...Qh4# 0-1

What happens when a beginner plays an expert? Hopefully, the beginner learns a lesson.
Colquitt-Sawyer begins 1.c3 e5 2.f3 d5 3.g4

3...Qh4# 0-1

Can a pawn on g3 stop a Fool's Mate? Not when both the h-pawn and f-pawn have moved.
JackBach-Sawyer begins 1.h3 d5 2.f4 e5 3.fxe5 Qh4+ 4.g3
4...Qxg3# 0-1

How does Black develop on the queenside and mate quickly? Black notices a serious White weakness on the kingside.
guest1586-Sawyer begins 1.h4 Nc6 2.h5 d5 3.f3 Qd6 4.g4

4...Qg3# 0-1

Does developing a kingside knight early in the game help? Yes, but... it helps a lot more if the knight is on f3.
ramani2kmd2004-Sawyer begins 1.f3 e5 2.Nh3 d5 3.a4 Bxh3 4.gxh3