Scholar's Mate
Similar to the fool's mate, the scholar's mate is another famous early game win, but this time in white's favor. In this version you' open with a standard e4, but quickly shift to your Bishop and Queen for a decisive attack on your opponent's king.
Counter-Play for Black
The principal behind this move is to attack the weakest point in black's defense: f7. The d7 and e7 squares both have 4 defenders at the start of the game while the f7 square only has one. This weakness can be exploited by two mobile pieces very quickly, the Bishop on c1 and the White Queen.
Options for White
Moving the queen at the beginning of the game is unwise, as Black will usually try to chase it away with tempo. Playing 2...g6, which block the Queen from the f7 pawn, is unwise, as seen below:
e4 e5White gains a huge advantage in this scenario. Instead, it is better to play:
Qh5?! g6?
Qxe5+ Qe7
Qxh8 (Losing the rook and threatening the g8 Knight along with the whole kingside)
e4 e5Play usually continues with Black fianchettoing his black-square Bishop (placing the Bishop along the longest diagonal) (5.Nc3 Bg7) and gaining a positional advantage.
Qh5?! Nc6 (protecting the pawn)
Bc4 g6! (attacking the queen and protecting the vital f7 square)
Qf3 Nf6 (4...Bg7?? 5.Qxf7#) (Blocking the White Queen's access to the f7 pawn)