Fool's Mate

Fool's Mate, also known as the "Two-Move Checkmate", is the quickest possible checkmate in chess. A prime example consists of the moves:

1. f3 e5
2. g4 Qh4#

resulting in the position shown. (The pattern can have slight variations, for example White might play f2–f4 instead of f2–f3 or move the g-pawn first, and Black might play e7–e6 instead of e7–e5.)


a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Fool's Mate – White is checkmated

Read more about Fool's Mate:  Details, Similar Trap

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    William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

    A master of men was the Goodly Fere,
    A mate of the wind and sea,
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    They are fools eternally.

    I ha’ seen him eat o’ the honey-comb
    Sin’ they nailed him to the tree.
    Ezra Pound (1885–1972)