Brutally PUNISH Scholar's Mate & Early Queen Attacks

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

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[@fortunatatimbal5033]

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[@moggolito]

@@fortunatatimbal5033 o

[@nrnaeim]

Pp

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

​@@fortunatatimbal5033 Absolutely agree.

[@kestergalarpe5443]

😢

[@is7117]

I've noted that most people who try the scholar's mate rarely know what to do if you know how to counter it. It's really annoying when you just want to play a good game of chess. I remember one particular game where the opponent wasted his entire opening by continuing to run away with his queen, while I simply kept attacking the queen while developing my pieces. All in all, one of the most satisfying wins I had.

[@danielzatkovich4659]

So it was really annoying yet supremely satisfying.

[@TheJackTheLion]

I LOVE these games

[@gorgolyt]

"really annoying" "most satisfying" Hm. To be honest it's a bit odd to be annoyed by a mistake which you know how to exploit, because that's literally the entire point of chess.

[@bobbymcjoey9432]

@@gorgolyt as someone who's in low ELO, I'm assuming they mean it's annoying bc many people play the opening and it gets stale/annoying since it's just not a good game of chess; When you know how to counter the scholar's mate, it's just a steamroll.

[@gorgolyt]

@@bobbymcjoey9432 That's not really true either, as mentioned in the video the opening has been used by masters. There were many points in this video where it can just become a game with a good position.

[@BobChess]

Me on the way to crush my scholar mate friend

[@deflexyt3965]

Wait i just saw u i think in chess brain's channel

[@BobChess]

e

[@marvelouswonderful]

Did it work?

[@sammysoseOFFICIAL]

We all have that friend. Lol

[@GalactixFX]

XDD hello bob chess

[@KocaMetallec]

I swear this is the best channel on entire KZbin for beginners Not Eric Rosen, not Nakamura, not Gotham Chess, not Chess Brah etc.. I don't know much about this GM but watching just a few videos of him instructing is a no brainer that this is THE BEST beginners teacher out there Well done sir!

[@jaideepshekhar4621]

ChessVibes? GM Naroditsky?

[@choppackpunch5736]

Yes, hes great. I've learnt lots of gotham and eric though. They are also great

[@louischarley6775]

I agree, Nelson does an amazing job but I feel he's slightly more focused on getting lower rated players to take up chess as a passion - I love that though, I watch him all the time he's entertaining and engaging. Igor just has a way of speaking where maybe it's not as entertaining but it gets me so intrigued I have to keep watching, and a bit more educational to those who have already decided that chess is a passion for them.

[@PrivateJoker0119]

bruh def not chessbrah lmao

[@tomedmonds1714]

well nakamura mainly because he just takes takes takes and is thenn winning because hes up a juicer

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

► Chapters 00:00 Scholar's Mate & Early Queen Attacks 01:53 Even top GMs try this (Carlsen, Naka, etc.) 02:21 Punish Scholar's Mate & Early Queen Attacks 03:05 First little nuance to know 04:20 General strategic rule: Attack in the center 06:36 Trapping the White Queen 07:15 BEWARE of this trick! 09:05 Winning position for Black 10:53 Computer's brutal move 11:39 Countering White's correct response 13:55 Trapping White's active knight 14:54 Puzzle: Ding Liren vs Jorden van Foreest

[@Xxxc7272]

I wonder on 4:04 what if bishop h4xg5. ....... h6xg5 h2-h4 g5-g4 Qf3-g3 d7-d5 e4xd5 etc

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

@@Xxxc7272 Black is just a piece up and White has no real threats anyway.

[@Kagpaw]

I really appreciate you and your channel. So many people explain things in a way where they assume you know something that is obvious to them, but not to a beginner or intermediate player. Your explanations are so concise and easy to follow. Thank you and God bless!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Thanks! It means a lot.

[@Pizzahutbaby]

@@GMIgorSmirnov yeah really was great. Thanks👍

[@fasullamail]

You stole my words! 😉

[@jimkyle8008]

In the puzzle at the end, White plays 1. Ne5 threatening to capture twice with his knights on f7 and thus checkmate the Black King. If Black defends with 1... Rf8 then White plays 2. Rc8 threatening 3. Rxf8 mate and if Black plays either 2....Rxc8 or Bxc8 then Black once again captures twice on f7 with his knights with checkmate.

[@NeunEinser]

Black also has Bc5 defending the rook, but ofc it's still mate with Rxf8+ Bxf8 and then the two Nxf7

[@iVesperX]

nice.. I saw nd6 w the same idea. if rxd6, there's rg8# and any attempt to defend f7, there's rc8 deflection

[@artCrummer]

Yes, that was my plan too...I don't see any flaws. Lovely!

[@jnrliufau4714]

the fastest sequence to mate is Rg5 threatening mate in 1

[@iVesperX]

@@jnrliufau4714 im p sure f6 would stop everything after rg5. bf2 also looks like it would be hard to deal with

[@sohamnandi5457]

I think Nd6 or Ne5 will work, if Nd6, Rxd6 cannot be played because of Rg8 checkmate. So a possible continuation can be Nd6 Rf8 (f7 is threatened twice) Rc8 and here I can't see a defense for Black because one of the defenders of f7, either the rook or the bishop must capture the rook on c8 to stop Rxf8 checkmate. Here we can capture f7 by the knights and deliver checkmate. Also, instead of playing Rc8 we can first capture f7 (this works because eventually the rook has to come to f7 leaving the back rank completely unprotected so we can follow up with Rc8) I also think Ne5 works for the same ideas.

[@aaronwalderslade]

Ne5 looks good

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

💪

[@SG14ever]

This is exactly the kind of info I need, even if the next 10 times this happens will probably be me forgetting the sequence and having to rewatch the video!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

🙏

[@CristanMeijer]

I only remembered 4 moves and that turned out to be enough for me: 1. move the right knight to defend your pawn 2. move pawn to G6 to push away the queen 3. in case your opponent tries the scholar's checkmate again via moving the queen up, defend your pawn by developing your left knight 4. punish your opponent by move the right knight forward to attack the queen and threaten a fork on (queen), king & rook. That almost always does it against the level of players who play the scholar's checkmate.

[@MikeySmithJones]

Write them down. Watch the video everyday for a week. You will remember! :)

[@Costavka]

11:28 The queen really said "Oh I can't take this rook? Welp, imma take the other one"

[@ojplugrsa3432]

Regarding the last puzzle, not really sure about my answer but it looks like it works. it goes as follows: 1. Ne5 Bxc5 2. Nxf7+(either of your nights does the trick) Bxf7 3. Nf7# Or if black tries to block this by playing Rd7 or Rf8 you simply play Rc8!! he/she has no choice but to capture your rook, if that happens you apply the same night moves. Remember Ne5 should be the first move.

[@russiaeurope8105]

You won boiii 💥💥💥

[@sl3nd3r_3]

Ne5 is the correct move, but black has a little more wiggle room before mate: 1) Ne5 Rf8 2) Nexf7 Bxf7 (alternatively Nhxf7 also works here for white) 3) Nxf7 Rxf7 4) Rc8+ Rf8 5) Rxc8#

[@jakobbrun6535]

Ne5 or Nd6 both win by force! Great walkthrough of the early queen attack after 1. e4 by the way. Instructive all around, and highlights a number of key chess principles applicable to all games, not just early queen attacks.

[@brendanwong4907]

No that doesn’t work. Black Castle f8 will solve it. It’s Pawn to f5.

[@jakobbrun6535]

@@brendanwong4907 it does work. 1. Ne5 Rf8 2. Nexf7+ Bxf7 3. Nxf7+ Rxf7 4. Rc8+ Rf8 5. Rxf8# Pawn to f5 looses the exchange and soon the game for white.

[@ParnoGrejanje]

Dudes, Nd6 wins. It forces the move Rf8/Rd6, white plays Rc8 in both cases and wins the game (even though Tg8 wins in case of Rd6). If the Rook is captured by the bishop or the rook white can take the pawn on f7 and end it because of the 2 knights are attacking it.

[@gm_ahmed]

What about Rook C to g5 then to g2

[@jakobbrun6535]

@@gm_ahmed allows black to defend with ...f6, with tempo on the rook.

[@michaelrobinson2687]

With the puzzle, it seems to me that dislodging the Black Bishop from the a2-g8 diagonal is key so I'd try this 1. R e5 (threatening the Bishop on e6 with the aim of following up by taking the Bishop then taking the undefended pawn on the next move for checkmate), any move loses Black the crucial Bishop but I can't predict what move Black would choose. If the Bishop takes the Knight then it would go like this 1. R e5, B x c4 2. b x c4, R f8 (since Black needs to protect against N x f7 #) 3. R e8, B c5 4. R x f8 +, B x f8 5. N x f7 #. If Black moves Bishop to d5 1. R e5, B d5 2. R x d5, R f8 3. R d8, B c5 4. R x f8 +, B x f8 5. N x f7 # if the Bishop doesn't move 1. R e5, R f8 (anticipating that I'd take the Bishop and follow up with N x f7 #) 2. R x e6, f x e6 3. N d6, ... By this point 4. N f7 +, R x f7. 5. N x f7 # is inevitable. Although given my track record at Chess Puzzles, there is probably some important thing I've overlooked which derails everything. With regards to Early Queen attacks, I keep getting frustrated by the following 1. e4, e5 2. Q h5, N c6 3. B c4, g6 4. Q f3, N f6 5. Q b3 (making another double attack on the f7 pawn which I don't know how to refute)

[@jalalfouani]

The part where you retreated the knight to trap the queen was genius. Thanks for the sequence!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

🙏

[@Sjuske1]

Can't white go bishop to e5, sacrificing the bishop, but saving the queen? Or is there something that I don't see?

[@heyb0ss594]

@@Sjuske1 If white moved bishop to e5, black's rook can just take the bishop. The queen is still stuck because even if it were to take the rook, white's queen can be taken by either black's bishop or knight.

[@checkmate2408]

​@heyb0ss594 @gmigorsmirnov But if white goes Bishop e5, and black counters with rook e5, then c3 is now safe for queen. If black counters with bishop e5, then e4 is now safe. I think either will be bad for white but the queen isn't in a forced trap

[@michaelrobinson2687]

@@Sjuske1 At that point B x e5 means that Black gets the White Rook as a consolation prize after Q e4, B x b2 (threatening both White's Queen and Rook simultaneously) and Black still has the better position. Either White loses the Queen or a Bishop and a Rook.

[@curiousMan69]

1. Ne5 Rf8 2. Nxf7 (check) Bxf7 3. Nxf7 (check) Rxf7 4. Rc8 (check) Rf8 5. Rxf8 (checkmate)

[@czarlguitarl]

N to D6 is a bold move that sets a nasty trap, if black recaptures that knight then it's Rook G8 checkmate. Since black can't capture that knight, it must cover the F8 square but it seems too little too late. White moves rook to C7, and I believe it's over for black as whatever black does white responds N-F7.

[@albertanelli7654]

N-F7 twice then the R-C3 Checkmate

[@ya3coco358]

Instead of that rook to C7, try rook to C8. More direct that way.

[@davidturner5225]

@@ya3coco358 doesnt he just move the dark squared bishop to f2, if you take pawn with knight bishop recaptures, if you take with rook, darkquared bishop takes the rook?

[@ya3coco358]

@@davidturner5225 Black does not have a luxury to waste any move because of direct checkmate threats. As I checked, lines are already covered in comments. The longest line how black can survive: (1.Nd6,Rf8 2.Ndxf7+,Bxf7 3.Nxf7+,Rxf7 4.Rc8+,Rf8 5.Rxf8++). Cheers,

[@WilliamJonesChess]

Your cat knows the 4 move checkmate, so it left at 00:15

[@WaylanderWOR]

I tried that defense principle in many games without threat of scholars mate, I find it very very solid overall, thanks mate you've made me not scared to play black lol. Subscribed

[@alekhinesgun9997]

So basically you discovered the modern defense setup?😂

[@WaylanderWOR]

@@alekhinesgun9997 yeah 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 so funny lol

[@yannickbehrendt]

For the puzzle, I’m seeing many different suggestions so here’s what I think: Nf7 would be mate if it wasn’t for the bishop defending that square - so you play f5 to kick it away. Doesn’t matter if you lose any exchange, you either take that bishop and have checkmate the move after or it moves away and you play Nf7 checkmate right away. Am I overlooking anything?

[@NathanByTheWay]

Rd8xRg8 ?! I don't think that's right

[@NathanByTheWay]

Ne5 covers f7. Nf7 then is # I think

[@cyclewithsteve6202]

If white plays F5, the only move for the bishop is c4 capture. At this point it still protects F7. White must capture with either pawn or rook to keep the f7 plan alive, and black can play Rf8 to stop the f7 mate. Or am I missing something?

[@brendanwong4907]

@@cyclewithsteve6202 you’re on the right track - then after taking black’s white bishop, and blacks castle to f8, you move White Castle to c8. Black resigns.

[@007avartar]

@@brendanwong4907 also after rf8 you could even take kxf7 forced move is rxf7 then rc8 rf8 and rxf8# but yours is also winning after rc8 only move is bc4 you play rxf8 bxf8 kxf7#

[@Mega_Bytes]

I'm a novice at chess but something you might be able to do that is pretty sneaky at 10:44 you can go e4 and if they take with pawn you have checkmate with queen d1. If you are worried they take with queen instead of pawn you could do rook e8 and proceed with the pawn to e4

[@ThisWorldShallKnowPaino]

thats *sneaky* indeed

[@Premking110]

Hats off

[@johniekraning1494]

except its whites move

[@Shergama131]

wont that make white's d3 pawn a strong one after d4?

[@Mega_Bytes]

@@johniekraning1494 What I said is assuming they don't move anything valuable and again I'm a novice at chess just thinking out loud, also the queen to d5 could have just been the whole pawn to e4 stuff instead of d5 and just left the queen on d8

[@Bigboibeven]

Even if no one tries the scholars mate, I really like the positioning of the knight and bishop that opens up the diagonal on whites rook. I'm a big fan of revealed attacks, and that one is just a beauty

[@JoshuaEvansVoltaDesign]

I finally got to 800 after plateau of 500, I get destroyed by scholars mate many times and figured out the first couple defenses, can’t wait to watch this a few more times to learn the punish!!!

[@cubicinfinity2]

Rapid or Blitz?

[@JoshuaEvansVoltaDesign]

@@cubicinfinity2 between 10 min and 30 min games - I'm not sure what qualifies rapid or blitz - I'm a noob in my 40's lol

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Well done, keep it up!

[@chandankumar-ir3cz]

Nice video Igor as usual 😊 but generally once black has castled then White will start his pawn storm by h4/h5 to open black' position which is worth analysing . Hope to see that if you cover in future🙏

[@RoundShades]

I was also thinking, what if instead of holding queen on one diagonal, they drop it back to cover the bishop moving up to trade, or like you said, instead put pressure on covering center pawns and creating an unexpected board state with white winning the center. I'm a fan of scholar mate, against good players you can still instead use it for positioning rather than the early mate, and predict black's position since they'll defend from the mate.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Thanks for the suggestion, it's noted.

[@LulaTheStampede]

I think literally every beginner after learning the basic rules of chess should just watch this video and try to really memorize these variations. As a beginner I fell for these kinds of tricks so many times and it's really hard for a beginner to come up with the proper solution to something as scary as an early dubious checkmate threat over the board, so I think knowing just these basic variations is going to win you a lot of games.

[@christopherpavlicas]

As a side note - A funny "technically losing" move for White is to play g4 after Black plays Nf6 to cover the mate threat from White's Queen on f3. Of course, this is a horrible move and is losing for White, but "Beginners" won't find Nd4 to attack White's Queen. Believe me, they won't lol. Beginners always play some other unrelated move. Then White plays g5 and "all beginners" see their Knight on f6 is under attack and inevitably move it (forgetting about the mate threat Qxf7). I know this sounds ridiculous, but it seems to always work on beginners. It's funny!

[@MikeySmithJones]

I was thinking the same thing Lula.

[@EdenPalmer8]

For the puzzle at the end --> Is the move for white, Knight to D6? (Sorry I'm poor with chess notation) If Black takes the Knight with his rook, then you have rook to G8 checkmate. If Black chooses to ignore the Knight, and decides to do something like taking the Rook on C5 with their bishop, you can push the knight from D6 to F7 which is check and forces black to take with their rook. You then recapture with your second knight on C5 and that's checkmate. I could be wrong but I think that makes sense.. I'm pretty new to chess.

[@DonCrAiyO]

I would have said knight to e5 then f7 is guaranteed?

[@michaelmassaro4375]

You remind me of myself just recently learned chess notations it’s takes a minute to get it down but definitely integral to knowing and following chess moves and games keep studying and playing can only get better myself I hate losing causes me crazy anxiety but so much fun to win what can you do

[@XxItsGoatedxX]

I would've thought Knight to E5, Bishop takes Rook, Knight takes pawn, Bishop is forced to take the Knight due to check and then you checkmate by taking back with the other knight

[@XxItsGoatedxX]

@@DonCrAiyO That's what I'm saying cause they're gonna be incentivised to take your Rook which results in Forced mate

[@Toopa88]

Chess notation takes a few minutes to learn, it's very simple ;)

[@Chunda8]

Hi GM Smirnov. I hope I'm not overlooking anything but I see with white to move: Rc5 to g5 because it is hanging. I'm not sure what counterplay black has to prevent Rg8+. Black Rxg8 but the other white rook delivers mate with again ...Rxg8. Black's move after Rg5 doesn't matter, neither bishop or rook will make any threat in time, White's king is safe enough currently. Anything else by White will likely be met with Bxc5. Losing that rook will be a problem for White, it would be tough to even swindle from there as otherwise things are roughly even on material, but I like White's position here.

[@jnrliufau4714]

no that doesn’t work bc Bg1 pins rook to white king and white cannot recapture with other rook

[@jnrliufau4714]

it is Ne5 then black would defend with Rf8 but Nh6 is already attacking there so it’s a mate in two after that sequnce

[@JEEAchiever123]

For the puzzle, i have 3 good moves 1. f5, attacking (and kind of trapping) the bishop, (Bxf5 is obv not an option bcoz of Nxf7#). Any other move other than that bishop will result in fxe6 (black pawn takes back leads to mate again) and other moves protecting the f7 pawn will result in exf7, after which i feel Rg8+ is just inevitable mate. 2. Nd6 and Ne5 - both have the objective of double attack on the f7 pawn. If Rf8, then Rc8 wins (since neither the rook nor bishop can take bcoz of Nxf7+). If for Nd6, Rxd6, Rg8# For this puzzle its like a burden of protection. The rook on d8 is preventing Rg8#. And the bishop on e6 is preventing Nxf7#. And Rc8 is also a threat

[@jeffjuin]

After f5 black will just take the rook on c5

[@Soxaldinho]

@@jeffjuin and? f5xe6, black defends pawn with Rd7, then white Rg8 ++, if clack defends with Rf8, then white e6xf7, if black takes pawn, then Knf7++, if black doesn't take pawn, then Rg8, Rxg8, f7xg8 promotes to queen.....++, If black doesn't defend pawn, then Rg8 ++

[@arthures-]

@@Soxaldinho The thing you're missing is why that f pawn is important in this puzzle and why if it was out of the game black would be just fine and probably winning, it's protecting Rd4+, in your line black doesn't need to defend the pawn and can check with either the rook or the bishop, with the former being better and forcing a rook trade because if white moves the king to g5 it's mate in 4 and if you block with the knight it's mate in 1.

[@puyantanha5746]

@@Soxaldinho you're missing Rf2 to defend the pawn

[@WisnuPrabowo]

I like how you explain things with the beginner/intermediate's POV. thank you

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mrhappysmiley2968]

For the puzzle, there are 2 correct moves you can choose to make. Either Nd6 or Ne5. Which ever move you decide to to make will result in a checkmate

[@kooldude_m8734]

How is Nd6 a checkmate I'm sorry I don't see it

[@rasmussonderriis]

@@kooldude_m8734 Only way to prevent the mate being threatened with Nxf7 is to cover f7 with one more piece through Rf8, but then white plays Rc8.

[@kooldude_m8734]

@@rasmussonderriis Ah, okay. Thanks for answering my question! :)

[@nathandyer8296]

Nd6 gets taken by Rd8, but Ne5 is checkmate in max 8 moves. [ Edit, I originally wrote Nn6 not Ne5. Typo. ;) ] [Edit 2: Nevermind, I was wrong, I see it now. Great eye!]

[@theUroshman]

You don't wanna give me your King rook, ok...then I'll take your Queen rook instead. (11:35) That "queen dance" made me smile, as it brought a smile on your face, too. 🙏😀

[@hiro6406]

You are a gm but youre still aware of problems for beginners. subscribed and hope to see continuous uploads!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

🙏

[@jpc812]

I just love watching these. So clearly explained and it gives me such a good arsenal of defense against standard openings. Great content, best I have seen.

[@Animagiko]

Thank you for these videos. Not only do they help improve my amateur chess game but you are one of the few people that can teach chess in an exciting manner.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Great to hear!

[@pratikpattanaik]

This is undoubtedly the most educative chess channel I've come across.

[@bencassiman3745]

Hello Igor, very instrumental as usual. Thanks for this. And question:: at 14:02, why not again put the bishop Bc4-g4 again? This time, you HAVE the queen, but I'm probably missing something.

[@Sleepy13-t5e]

I was about to ask that but then i realised that horse capture horse with check and the bishop is no longer defended

[@ziaulhaq4833]

I also thought about that, and found the result that if we play Bg4 at that position, then white can play Nxf6+ and after Qxf6 or Bxf6, the bishop on g4 no longer remains protected and white will get a free piece.

[@necromanzer52]

At 6:17, my first thought for white was Be5, but you didn't mention it. After looking closer, I believe the problem is that black can go Qe7 and then it's winning a bishop, but white would get to castle.

[@PointToBlank89]

Exact same thing I thought about.

[@quantum_immortal69]

One thing I'll do as black starting from the 1:28 position (except instead of play Nc6 to protect the e5 pawn I would've played d6) is actually f6 with the pawn. Protected by both the knight and queen, and I rarely castle so I'm not worried about the pawn moving up. Then white usually plays d3 to open the way for the white's dark square bishop. Then I play h5. Then a lot of the time white plays Bg5 offering what looks like a tempting free bishop but of course if you take it you've opened the way for the white queen to checkmate. After that, since I played d6 instead of Nc6 and my light square bishop is free, I play Bg4, attacking the queen. Now white's best move will still win you a bishop in exchange for a pawn.

[@LokangoFreewar15]

15:03 Nd6 (threat mate on f7) ; Rf8 (if Rxd6, Rc8+ deflects the overload bishop and Nxf7#) Rc8 (pinning Rf8 and mate threat in Rxf8 and Nxf7) ; Rxc8 or Bxc8 Nxf7+ ; Rxf7 or Bxf7 Nxf7#

[@iankemp1131]

Looks like either Ne5 or Nd6 wins due to the attack on f7 - no difference? If Nd6 Rxd6 Nf7+ Bxd7 Rc8 - a double deflection of the two pieces originally guarding c8.

[@romantyczneszachy2377]

Rd6 Rg8 matw

[@amateur148]

The correct solution is 1.Nd6 or Ne5 ..Rf8 2. N (on d or e) xf7+ which forces a checkmate in 3 more moves 2...Bxf7 (2...Rxf7 immediately loses for Black with 3. Rg8##) 3.Nxf7+ ...Rxf74 4. Rc8+...Rf8 5.Rxf8#). The move 2. Rc8 actually makes things more complicated with 2...Bg4 (blocking the threat from white Rook on g). If White still goes ahead with 3.Nxf7 or 3.Rxf8+, the black king will try to escape with 3....Kg7. If white plays 3.Rxg4 in reply to 2...Bg4, Black has 3...Bf2+ 4. Kg5...f6+ or ...Kg7. White might still be winning but it is no longer a checkmate in 5.

[@jambangpisang5809]

1. Ne5 Rf8 2. Nexf7+ Bxf7 3. Nxf7+ Rxf7 4. Rc8+ Rf8 5. Rxf8# 1-0 {ding dong checkmate}

[@darrellrees4371]

I normally am a Sicilian player but at blitz I have played around with the idea of 1.e4, e5 2.Qh5, Nf6 ("overlooking" the threat on the e pawn) 3. Qxe5, Be7 followed by 0-0, Re8, and d5. Any observations?

[@itayn6422]

I actually thought of it too and then realised it was a legit gambit, it looks really fun.

[@RotoGluOn]

Great video, as usual! I think the puzzle solution starts by moving Kc4 to e5 then if the Bxc5 we got Kxf7, Bxf7, Kxf7 # but I might be wrong, about the moves order or may be the black doesn't take the rook then I don't know.

[@yurmom9660]

Its N for knight but smart moves

[@victormarkkula587]

N to d6 also seems to work, with the same threat. And if rook takes, white can go Nxf2 and after bishop takes you can deliver the forcing mate with Rc8.

[@ulfnarverud1661]

Correct! Ne5 threatens to take twice on f7 with checkmate. The only way to defend against this is Rf8 but now comes the stunning move Rc8!!, which deflects either the rook or the bishop from the defense of f7!

[@ruanjordaan9542]

i think that knight to E5 is definitely the winning move.

[@RickThoreen]

1) Ne5 Rf8 (best defense) 2) Rc7 … no more defense for black…will win with some combination of Rxf7 taking pawn if it doesn’t move or Rf7 if pawn does move followed by 2 knight checks on f7 with the 2nd being mate. If black rook doesn’t take white rook after it comes to f7, Rxf8 will be mate even faster. Even better, if black doesn’t defend f7 with rook after Ne5, can immediately execute 2 knight checks on f7 with the 2nd being mate.

[@abishangar8680]

Ne5 Two possibilities (Rd7 or Rf8) If Rd7, it's simply checkmated by Rc8. Else if Rf8, Rc8 (Bxc8 or Rxc8) Nxf7+ (Bxf7 or Rxf7) Nxf7#

[@WrongAlbee]

love your content

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Couldn't agree more!

[@FlameStudio-o7y]

Rc7 or Rf5..initiates moves for checkmate

[@worldofchessandvariants]

Puzzle: 1. Nd6 Rf8 (to counter 2. Nxf7+ Bxf7 3. Nxf7#) 2. Ndxf7+ Bxf7 3. Nxf7+ Rxf7 4. Rc8+ Rf8 5. Rxf8# Very nice checkmate pattern.

[@alexwolters1164]

The idea of Bb4, kicking the queen as an in between move is great, since it applies to other positions as well. Had it many times that i didnt wanna strike with d5 because i would lose a pawn, or at least i thought so.

[@stag6161]

I think you mean Bg4 but yeah good one to keep in mind

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

I'm glad it was helpful

[@younesamjoche2029]

for the quiz : knight to d6 or e5 attacking pawn at f7 best move for black is f8 defending the pawn one of the knights takes f7 black forced to takeback after that rook c8 is a forced checkmate

[@phidybee3334]

Have to thank you for sharing the O'Sullivan's gbit video, so I opted to try it out against d4 which is essentially a polish defence transposition, don't like it against e4 because if white plays 2 C4 instead of 2 d4 it simply no longer works, but I'm really enjoying it against d4, so many sharp lines nd traps & what's interesting is I've had a 75%win rate with it against players of roughly my rating and I'm still nothing like proficient in it,but we"re getting there, thanks again 👍👍

[@felipejco]

Thanks for your great lessons Mr Igor Smirnov!! The solution, I guess is: 1. Ncd6 Bxc5 2. Nd7xf7+ Bxf7 3. Nhxf7+ Jaque mate

[@harryheilmann2208]

I really appreciate your channel, you communicate so well. I took an interest in chess on Christmas day. I knew the rules of chess and played with my Mom 60 years ago, but not much since then. I see N-d6 wins. Black attempts to protect F7 result in mate. Tell us your solution!

[@alainzanchetta]

1. Ne5 Rf8 2. Nxf7 Bxf7 3. Nxf7 Rxf7 4. Rc8 Rf8 5.Rc8# ?

[@Pj0terGie]

I am really happy I saw this video. Wish you all the best, Igor.

[@Wolf-kx8li]

if i'm correct, the puzzle is knight to e5 due to making the rook split on defense, if rook moves to d7 to block knight to f7 then rook to g8 wins and if any other move happens, knight to f7 wins if the bishop isn't on there, and if the bishop takes f7 then knight takes f7 and wins anyways

[@Jushchenkov]

knight e5 (sacrifice rook), knight f7 fork (bishop has to beat it), knight f7 checkmate

[@ruukinen]

It's not really a sacrifice if it's forced mate is it? Even if they make the only move that prolongs the game by one turn after ke5, which is rook f8 your other rook just does the mate.

[@hgv85]

“We’re happy all around because we’re happy people.” - Igor Smirnov at 13:47 Yes, Igor, we sure are. 😁🤣

[@diadormus]

Awesome guide, thank you very much! Question: You mentioned top tier players playing this opening as white, what ideas did they go for? I can't imagine a super GM going for this knowing it's fundamentally flawed. Or do they just gamble their opponent doesn't know the theory?

[@lysy-zn2gg]

GM's choose bad position to suprise their opponents and yeah maybe they studied some of the other lines in this opening to know best engine moves or specific traps and tricks in which opponent could fall. I'm not sure about this analogy but it is something like footballer shots very lightly while goal penalty to catch goalkeeper off guard.

[@briancherski1863]

Am I missing something here, in the first situation when black makes his"evil little move" from F6 to D7, Igor says that whites queen is lost, however, if white moves his bishop from G3 to E5 and Black moves his Bishop to take White's bishop, White can move his queen to E3 because Black's Bishop is blocking his own rook. Black moves his bishop and White escapes to C1, protecting his rook on A1. Forgive me, I'm a beginner and have just started watching these video's so I hope someone can show me where I'm wrong.

[@talksalot7562]

who's here because y'all got beaten by nelson?

[@Grapppler1996]

Lmao Yes

[@agentxyz]

10:34 Turn up your speakers to hear best way to punish opponent if you are playing in person

[@earsplitingloud]

That has been banned in warfare, but not in chess.

[@JohnSmith-zw8vp]

I remember in 7th grade playing the best player in our class who tried to pull that Scholar's Mate crap on me and after he put his bishop and queen into position, I simply moved my knight to h6 and sure enough, he was far too eager to deliver "checkmate" and I was able to take his queen!! He then insisted on do-over! hee hee...

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

😎

[@BlueJedi-yu2gg]

Is there a pgn for this by any chance? Thanks

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Yes, you can find it in the description of the video.

[@AlexGarcia-um6kj]

rook c5 to g5 would be my next move

[@dianefish2616]

me too, I was was wondering why no one else thought this

[@Costavka]

I have a lot of low ELO players at school who only know the scholars mate and think that they know how to play chess, boy I will humiliate them in the upcoming tournament...

[@leapinglizardking]

Pawn F5

[@flyingmonkey3822]

Endgame (excuse poor notation and please find errors): Sac the rook,and send knight with kd6 tempting black a rook move off the back rank which loses to Rd8+. They take rook with Bxc5, it can’t be saved anyway. Why not save the rook? Rg5 to attempt a battery loses to pinning the other rook to king with Bf1 and there’s no defense and it’s not in time. First rook gets taken by back rank rook and the pin just exhausts the whole attack. With rook down, take the pawn kxf7+ they have to take with bishop Bxf7 and then we retake with the knight kxf7#. If they don’t take the rook and instead protect the pawn on f7 with Rf8, then white can save the rook and can add an attacker with a fork to the bishop by Rc7. And the attack goes through now. If the rook piles on the defense with Rxf7, switch to back rank mate instead of knight mate with Rc8+, Rf8 block, Rxf8#

[@nuklearwinter2892]

Pawn to F5

[@salikqazi4914]

best, I too was confused why nobody was mentioning that.

[@josephconradie5935]

Yeah thats the best everyone else want to move the knight the pawn move is decisive

[@pinkychandra3661]

I too was looking for this comment for long.

[@bjbhuyan8504]

Please comment or like if I'm correct... Puzzle:1)pawn f4 to f5 forcing move 2)then wherever bishop moves it's a blunder i.e.,(d7/c8/f5) 3)knight h6 to f7 and it may be a checkmate

[@TheRomanianWolf]

Ne5 is the right move

[@nicoscarfo4486]

The scolars mate mate made me quit chess for awhile, I got sick of seeing it in every game

[@indigo-alienpurplewater3072]

I almost refuse any re-match against an Indian player who pulls this on me. I know how to refute it, but I wont put up with it and onto the block list they go. If more people did that? Eventually players from India would only have each other to play against.

[@frimnpi7473]

wdym quite chess

[@nicoscarfo4486]

@@frimnpi7473 quit

[@nicoscarfo4486]

@@indigo-alienpurplewater3072 it's so annoying, you expect that from beginners but not when you're ranked in the 1500s

[@indigo-alienpurplewater3072]

@@nicoscarfo4486 I'm not in the 1500's. I just got tired of seeing that one particular flag and then knowing exactly what was coming.

[@StephenWhite55]

1. Nd6! does the job. A lovely move: both the N-d6 and White's R-c5 are hanging, but the threat of Nf7+ is deadly. If 1. ... Rxd6, 2. Rc8+! Bxc8, 3. Nf7# (or if 1. ... Rd7 or ... Rf8, 2. Rc8+! diverts a defender of f7, followed by 3. Nf7 w/ # coming).

[@andrewferguson6901]

1. Nd6 is not a legal move

[@cg6511]

@@andrewferguson6901 why wouldn't it be legal? Obviously Ne5 is the most tempting one that will do the trick, but i can't see anything irregular in going Nd6.

[@alejandroayalamaldonado2817]

Excelente explicaciòn,gracias.!!!

[@Nextormer]

i think the puzzle solve for white is the simple move rook to g5,now white has the 2 rooks connected + the knight protecting the essential square to checkmate,blacks rook to g2 is impossible it's too late for black now

[@comrade-ahsoka]

Yes, but then what? Black plays f6 and the Bishop defends that square, it’s defended 3 times (by the Rook, the Bishop, and the King), and attacked thrice (by the Rooks and the Knight). The winning move is, I’m pretty sure, Nd6. Black can’t prevent the following: Rg8+ Rxg8; Nxf7+ Bxf7; Nxf7#. And if the Rook captures the Knight on d6, Rg8 is simply mate

[@judemorales4U]

I have favorite channels for different reasons. Igor is one of my favorites for instructional. Thanks Igor, backing up those bishops has helped me a lot!

[@UndergroundRomance]

Nice video. When I was young, I analysed 4...Nh6, meeting the natural reply 5 d3 with ...f5. It works very well in most lines, but sadly Stockfish has pooped on that with the modest move 6 Ne2 giving a small edge to White. Thank you for showing something more convincing.

[@ravi7619]

Great content, very helpful. Thank you. Quick question, at 6:55 looks like White can escape Queen capture by blocking with Be5. Am I missing something?

[@pokemonpro8438]

He must have missed it because I cant find anything either that would punish that

[@michelemesiti8906]

@@pokemonpro8438 Then ... Bxe5 ; Qe3 Bxh2+ ; Kxh2 Rxe3 ; fxe3 and black has exchanged a rook for a queen and white's king is not in a nice position.

[@HolySpicoli]

@@michelemesiti8906 your sequence is not possible, black only threatens e5 with the rook

[@michelemesiti8906]

@@HolySpicoli no, there's a bishop on g7 and a knight on d7 too. Are you sure you are looking at the same position at 6:55?

[@HolySpicoli]

@@michelemesiti8906 that’s after Kf1. At 6:37 the knight is blocking black bishop on g7 so if white plays Be5 to block check black has to find another route to attack.

[@itayn6422]

15:07 I think the correct move is Ne5, attacking the f7 pawn so if Bxc5 then Nexf7 Bxf7 Nxf7# and if after Ne5 Rf8 defending the f7 pawn white can play Nexf7+!! Bxf7 (Rxf7 Rg1#) Nxf7+ Rxf7 Rc8+ Rf8 Rxf8#

[@nathandyer8296]

Regarding the puzzle at the end- Disclaimer: I learned chess as a kid, got into it a bit with pick up games in college, but was never part of a club or anything. So, I am NOT an amazing player and don't know the technical shorthand terms or anything. Here is how I see it: Move the white knight on C4 to E5. At that point, black must protect the next move of either knight to F7. Once either knight moves to F7, that's Checkmate. The only delaying move would be for black to move the rook on D8 to F8 to cover F7. White would then initiate the exchange by attacking F7 with both knights, and black would be forced to capture to avoid checkmate. When that exchange takes place, both of the white knights will be gone, as will either the black rook or the black bishop. Next turn is White and moves the rook at C5 to C8 for since the bishop that was on E6 covering that space is either gone or out of position. At that point, black can only block with an undefended rook or bishop on F7 (whichever made it through the exchange). That is taken by the white rook on C8 with the next move and that is checkmate. It's a nine move train on rails going to Checkmate station. Yes, it can be done faster if black deviates, but this assumes black plays a perfect defense.

[@31acruz]

Nice job. One of the best tutorial series out there. He is clear, precise, to the point, just a very good natural teacher.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

😄

[@lexb3672]

At 14:01, why don’t you still play bishop to g4? Isn’t the queen still trapped or have I overlooked something?

[@Will_E_Wonty]

... Nxf6+ removes the defender of the bishop with tempo.

[@kevinbenedetto5281]

at 6:15 and if white blocks with bishop to e5, i suppose you could attack it with knight to d7. white's bishop is hit three times, and also can't take black's bishop because of the pin. or is there a better response?

[@lianvelasco3]

Be5 is probably the best move for white. Nd7 is actually a blunder (free bishop on g7) The line with Be5 is not covered on the video and it should be favourable for white. Anyway, most of the times white is just gonna move the king away

[@X00000370]

N -> d5 (threat is N x f7, B x f7; N on h6 x B checkmate) Black defends moving R d8 -> f8 Now white plays N on D6 x f7, and if Black takes on f7 with the rook you move R on c5 to c8 check (leads to checkmate) and if black take's with the bishop white plays N on h6 x B on f7 and this leads to checkmate after black captures your night with the rook (then R on c5 to c8 check, mate next white move).

[@toplaz007]

after seeing few videos i understood why the contents are too good because it is directly from GM; We are honoured ; Also love the way kitty drops @00:20

[@negru8011]

Is there a sale anytime soon. Really wanna buy the improve elo course, can‘t afford it though😢

[@Huislife-s3g]

Thank you so much, Igor! I have a question: 13:56, cant you trap the queen any way with Bg4

[@TheRomanianWolf]

Nxf6 with check removes the defender of the bishop....so the queen can simply take it.

[@kelloth3888]

At 6:15. Wouldn't bishop e5 be a better move? It's what I would have played atleast. Moving the king there seems like a mistake to me.

[@williamandrade4989]

GM Igor answer to puzzle is F5 black can respond with bd7 2.nxf7 mate if black takes 1.f5 bxf7 2.nxf7 for mate still 1. F5 re8 2. fxe6 fxe6 3. Nd6 bxc5 4. Nxf7 mate all ends the same first move always f5

[@TheRomanianWolf]

Ne5 is the answer, NOT stupid f5

[@leeharrison2722]

I haven't looked below to see if anybody else got it, but the move of puzzle is Ne5, possibly sacrificing the rook. If black makes any move other than Rf8 to protect the pawn then either knight takes the pawn, check, the bishop takes, and then the other knight retakes, checkmate. (note black cannot go Rd7; knight takes, other knight mates) If black moves the rook to f8 then white plays Rc7 ... then takes the pawn ... the knights complete the trading to the mate.

[@albertvaldez2669]

I don't want to hit like! But you really made me laugh at 11:30 hahaha. liked and subscribed!!!!

[@vladislavshevchenko634]

15:10 I think its relatively easy: Ne5 threatening Nxf7+, the only way to defend is with a rook. Regardless of their move we do Nxf7 anyway, if Rxf7, then Rg8#, if bxf7, then Nxf7+ again, the rook has to take an we play Rc8+, Rxf8#

[@ronfrancis6012]

3. ..Qe7 refutes the scholar's mate more quickly, and I would guess it is a move that would more likely be played. Maybe the line you covered gives black slightly more advantage, but it would have been nice if you had covered this line as well. I do love your videos though, so I'm not complaining. :)

[@davidcorley1146]

Qe7 isn’t really great since you block your bishop in, it avoids the mate threat but it doesn’t really improve the position.

[@aarongull5]

Bingo. Qe7 takes the attack away. No need to remember 8 moves deep in different lines.

[@neo3times]

13:48 "we're happy one again we're happy all around cause you know we're happy people" 🤣

[@XAVargasX0206]

Yeah but what if the push pawn to g4 trying to attack your knight on F3?

[@TheRomanianWolf]

It WEAKENS the king's pawn structure. EASY win from there!

[@danielgautreau161]

In the book Chess Master Versus Chess Amateur, by Max Euwe, at 2:40, W (amateur) plays Qb3 and B plays Qe7. But at 2:40 if W plays Qb3 then Nd4!! is winning for B. E.g. Bxf7+, Ke7 / Qc4,b5, or Qd3,d5! or Qa4, Nxe4 /c3, Nc5!.

[@grouchygame5250]

I was watching this video on my lunch break at work and went to hang out with my cousin later that evening. We played a game of chess and he tried the scholars mate. I did exactly what Igor told me to do and demolished my cousin. He told me that he followed GothamChess advice for the scholars mate tricks and that Gotham had said no one would use the moves that I used and I showed him this video. It was a great game.

[@LesterShipMirOleg1992]

Man, you're the Dude. It's just not about moving pieces to win a game, there's a philosophy first before strategy.

[@richardkeller4892]

@11:58 if you delay pawn D3, then you can move Queen B2 after they move Bishop to attack Queen (then checkmate or you get their pawn)

[@sunilkyadar9178]

Answer to the puzzle is 1.Ne5 Our main plan is to attack on f7 pawn. He must protect the f7 pawn because it is attack by the both knights. So black will play Rf8 Then 2. N*f7 + If black takes with Rook then white can take back with knight or white can play directly Rc8+ check also. If black takes Whites rook with Bishop then N*Rf7 # There are so many traps and nearly all are checkmating the black king

[@damianlim3429]

Puzzle at end: W: Ne5 B: defends with Rf8. W: Nxf7 B: Bxf7 W: Nxf7 B: Rxf7 W: Rc8 check, black has to protect with his bishop to f8 white checkmates with Bxf8.

[@AJ-mj8up]

Background Cat is just the best