How To PUNISH Early Queen Attacks & Scholar's Mate

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

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[@salkinfamilychiropractic3142]

How can you do this when you play as black and use the Sicilian opening?

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

@@salkinfamilychiropractic3142 It's actually even easier for Black in the Sicilian defense. You may play e6 and White can't attack you anymore.

[@knowledgeuntamed9177]

​@salkinfamilychiropractic3142 my son is 13 and almost just won State in his 1st year. Really wanna get him a trainer.

[@mustray8910]

Qqqqqqqq

[@elasticharmony]

good stuf I get this often

[@albertsinuraya]

Nh5 and the queen is trapped. Beautiful.

[@BinjyBroban]

Nice

[@kmmian786]

Why trap when you could finish the game in 2 moves

[@jarkkopesonen]

@@kmmian786 No, you can't. There's no forced checkmate.

[@dezkyle7630]

Yes you can. Bishop G4 check King forced to C2 Knight e1 Mate

[@jukixfi]

@@dezkyle7630 what about pawn f3, then King can stay without moving

[@morgansegui9845]

Thank you, it changed the way I welcome early queen. I am now hoping for it. So good. You transformed the stress into joy. I repeated the moves for 2 hours on my chessboard to get the principles anchored in my brain. Thanks again!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

That's a solid preparation! 💪 I wouldn't dare to play Qh5 against you now :)

[@vikramsrinivasan8176]

I am going to try the same. Just keep repeating moves till it's wired.

[@goldcoastj]

I really enjoyed this video. Let's have more "merciless and brutally punish" videos.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

😎

[@HoodRatBass]

For real the one about punishing the knight pins was great too. Super helpful and really explains the concepts better than other chess creators

[@godlynew8895]

My friend has been doing the queen start for awhile, and I killed off his queen in less than 5 moves every time before seeing this video, this makes me happy knowing I did something right before someone else had to make a video about it

[@Beery1962]

10:16 Puzzle of the day - Knight to H5. Queen is trapped.

[@antonzagrafov741]

Bishop to G4

[@AcVinicious]

@@antonzagrafov741 probably not since it can be blocked by a pawn and knight right ?

[@alexhirobrian]

​@@AcViniciouswhat?

[@AcVinicious]

@@alexhirobrian ?

[@Relaxing.Rainfall]

Bg4 kc2 ne1 mate

[@RamKumar-gy9nb]

Brilliant and fantastic video. Way back 25 years ago when we didnt have youtube, it was so annoying to find a solution to this Scholar's mate and I myself have had felt terrible after losing. People with little or less skills beat you with this humiliation. I know many chess players now still use it as an opening and then build up their positions but they are experienced and know to handle it. But you have made a very nice video on this. Great work and I can understand the preparation required for making a video (editing, etc.). So thank you again and God bless you.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Thank you so much for your nice words!

[@transager7]

@@GMIgorSmirnov Dear Igor, on 09:10 - what if White takes with the bishop, not with the pawn? what is the main continuation line?

[@alfredocruz123426]

@@transager7 they can’t take with the bishop cause they would be down in material if they did.

[@BEN-ys6gu]

@@alfredocruz123426 can you explain why?

[@tpmunyon]

Dude, you are a tremendous teacher. So impressive.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Thanks!

[@michaelrobinson2687]

Came here via two of your other "Punishing Early Queen Attacks" videos as I have one opponent who keeps playing the Q b3 variation - I was searching KZbin for the counter strategy - and ended up learning that and more. Thank you for making this video. Regarding the puzzle at 10:07 here's my response. 1. B g4 + (Preventing Q x g7 while attacking),f3 2. B f2 (Which I think traps the Queen) or 1. B g4 + (Preventing Q x g7 while attacking), N f3 2. B x f2 (Which I think traps the Queen)

[@ChrisRogers-v1e]

I watched this video a few days ago and I was able to successfully trap the queen after my opponent started with the scholar's checkmate and moved their Queen to B3 in line with the Biship at C4. It felt great to counter this attack and trap the queen in the middle of the board. Thank you so much for all of your videos and showing different variations of these attacks.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

► Chapters 00:00 Brutally Punish Early Queen Attacks & Scholar's Mate 01:13 1) If White plays 2.Qh5 and then 3.Bc4 02:39 If White continues playing aggressively for Mate 04:58 If White plays Qb3, targeting f7 07:22 2) If White plays 2.Bc4 and then 3.Qf3 08:45 Counterattacking in the center 10:05 Can you find the winning move for Black? 10:26 If White plays d3 with the idea of Bg5 12:30 White's last attempt in Scholar's Mate

[@mauricem7007]

Boss, thank you, as always for the nice content. Take care, GM Igor.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

@@mauricem7007 You're welcome! :)

[@italixgaming915]

There are four ideas in this position: 1) Nxf2+ : forks the King and the Rook ad Black is clearly winning but this is not the best move. 2) Bxf2 : here we attack the Queen while preparing Bg4+, removing the f3 move. The problem is that White can play Qxg7 and still has Qh6 in case of Rg8 and Nf3 (sacrificing the knight) in case of Bg4+ so this attack wins material but is not deadly. 3) Bg4+ with the idea of Ne1# if Kc2 and Bf2 (or Bxf2) if White blocks, trapping the Queen. 4) Nh5 : attacks the Queen and despite having 13 possible moves, the Queen is also trapped. So Bg4+ and Nh5 are two ways to destroy White.

[@gatekeeperboxing5898]

Ng4 also leaves the queen with nowhere to move to, it is temporarily safe where it is until the next move when Bishop to d6 also wins the queen.

[@benitoroylabastida8403]

As a 1k ELO player (I started playing chess again after 2 years), I absolutely love it when opponents take out the queen early. I just get crafty (it gets boring eventually) and let them take my e5 pawn.

[@99ZULU]

Black: Bishop g4 check White: Can't move king to c2 because of mate in 1 with knight e1, so either pawn f3, knight f3, or knight e2 to block. If they block with queen or take g4 bishop then you just capture their queen. Black: If white just blocks then bishop f2 traps the queen and you win it on the next move.

[@italixgaming915]

Or Nh5 directly traps the Queen. You can play any of these moves, it leads to the same result.

[@99ZULU]

@@italixgaming915 True, I do like my line more just for the potential that they blunder mate in 1. But Nh5 is a clean choice, curious how the engine evaluates those options.

[@whitmoreparkcommunitychurc4944]

@@99ZULU KEEPING IN mind that the Lesson is on trapping the QUEEN... not so much a mate in three

[@kevinwilson5711]

Your counter attack movements are great. I examine the spots on response and am impressed. Good job 👍

[@lukehudson9684]

This is amazing. Drilling these lines so I can punish this at low level bullet - it's super common and, even if I can force them back into "even" positions, I end up getting into trouble with some of the other tricks and losing on time. Thank you!!!

[@ianjohnson171]

I’m rated 500 (I know, I suck) but the problem with early queen attacks at that level is most of them don’t go for the checkmate, they just fly the queen around and pick off my pieces as I chase it and yell at my phone lol if I see a queen come out early it’s almost a guaranteed loss.

[@roeydaz]

I am trying to get back into chess after starting long before there was even Internet! Books were the way to go. I took an initial hammering when someone tried the scholars mate on me but with a bit of patience and perseverance prevailed. Especially at the lower levels just trying to play a game of chess with a queen generally will end in grief!

[@asmziauddinahmed1964]

Excellent video. I faced many times with early queen attacks and made me suffer, but now I welcome them to do it again!

[@AntoineDennison]

At 10:21, I would play knight f6 to h5. The Queen has nowhere to go.

[@franktaggart-qs5ff]

Thank you for the explanation of beat peopleIt’s so nice to hear someone explain things and move to another very good you’re very good teacher thank you

[@denzel_thegreat1681]

I lost some games because of this as i am a new player and didn't notice when the queen goes back they can do it again, I am happy I got this video by accident. I have like and subscribe as I hope to get more tips

[@joltierre]

I usually start with my knights’ pawns to defend against an early Scholar’s but this is scary. Very scary. Thank you for this

[@stephenmathenge9723]

😂ur a real joker anyway I have tried many time to play pawn then knight bt I always end up punished

[@joltierre]

@@stephenmathenge9723 ??? I play Larsen-Nim like 50% of my games

[@vikramsrinivasan8176]

This is a truly brutal counter attack. Going all out. Simply Superior.

[@SlinkyOCE]

Just started playing chess and I've started on fundamentals and trying to develop. With low elo I keep getting smoked by aggressive queens even though I faired okay against higher elo friends. I will be using this information to punish my opponents! THANK YOU!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

You're always welcome, best of luck in your games!

[@ScottyDog345]

Castle lush Bishop back with pawns trap bishop

[@marekblahovec1357]

Oh my gosh this video is mega! I love this, thank you!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

😊

[@grandpafrogie]

I knew how to deal with normal respond, but IDK this one yet. Nice one, giving punishment for trying to bully with newbie trick. Even some of 1200s rating still trying to do this one... Amazing.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

😎

[@danieltoth722]

10:22 best step ig knight g4 cause the only way to take it down then is queen g4, but then you can check with knight f2 while also attacking the queen.

[@berndrickert5510]

Thanks, good move. Now pawn g7 is protected and if white doesn't move pawn f3, bd6 finishes the job.

[@RealTipProductions]

because of your videos on the wayward queen, my win rate playing black is 60%+, that's how often people play it in low elo games. thank you so much!

[@Chunda8]

GM Smirnov you had me at "We're gonna be brutal today." I am in the right place, subbed.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

😎

[@denizkenger52]

10:23 bishop F2 gets u the queen.

[@ScorpionKing1980]

Queen takes g7...

[@moodygainz]

10:24 kh5

[@scotblust5390]

Thank you! I needed this. The scholar's checkmate is definitely annoying and now I have the tools to make them pay!!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

That sweet revenge is coming

[@ingogoldbeck2886]

The solution for most common pattern is at 9:03 😊 great idea!

[@gtheodos]

Thank you for posting these videos. Your explanations are clear and really helpful.

[@juliomendez5361]

Knight h5 best move to trap queen and look to consolidate C2 (king’s only way out) for checkmate

[@Romeoshadez]

Wow I learned so many small tricks watching this . Ty !

[@mikekeenan8450]

Solution to puzzle: ... Bxf2. If White plays Qxg7, Black plays Rg8, and after Qh6 Rg6 White's queen has run out of moves.

[@emwu86]

Man... I discovered your channel few days ago and I love it!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

I'm happy that you enjoyed it

[@gregoryrobertson]

Very well explained, thanks & subscribed 👍

[@Chess-Online]

10:10 Bishop to f2, capturing the white pawn. White is forced to defend the queen, it does not matter where the white queen goes. Then Bishop to g4, checking the white king. The white king is forced to move to c2 square. Then Knight to e1, checkmating the White King.

[@aomikeyy3287]

Did this make anyone else think of Nelson?

[@stefanm2864]

Thank you! I often had been confused by that early queen h5 and lost. Hope this won´t happend to me now any further.

[@julitoireneojr9587]

Thanks!

[@interestedbystander196]

New subscriber here. Thanks so much for putting out these videos. Appreciate the effort. Perhaps now I can learn some strategies to win against my kids - they both crush me regularly.

[@bhushannikode5086]

Thank you🙏🙏❤

[@georgie4024]

Amazing video 🔥🔥🔥

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Thanks 🔥

[@prithwishguha309]

Wow you're a like a rockstar in chess, this video was by far the best destruction of scholar's mate

[@mshparber]

Excellent! Thanks!!!

[@sandeepverygoodvedeo8693]

Thanks very much Sir

[@VanlifewithAlan]

Absolutely brilliant!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Thank you!

[@shaunpatrickbanares2205]

bishop to g4, king to c2, and knight to e1 is mate, so to avoid mate, the knight or pawn is forced to block the bishop, after that, you can go knight to f2 and there is nothing stopping you from eating the rook, if he takes the bishop with the queen, you can eat the queen with your knight and there is nothing stopping you from eating the rook, if he moves the king then you can still take the pawn on f2 winning the rook next move, if he goes knight to h1 to free up space for the rook while defending the pawn on f2, then just take on f2 with one of your knights, and when he takes back you can take with your other knight and its a fork still, if he blocks with queen then it's just a queen for a bishop, bg4 or nh5 is winning, since nh5 completely traps the queen and you win the queen next move.

[@Walkman0007]

Good stuff, thanks dude

[@jthefarmer298]

Nice GM. Thank you for the content

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

I'm glad it was helpful!

[@wellingtonoliveira3844]

Thank you master

[@WillAdamson]

Hot vid. Why couldn’t queen take pawn at 6:56?

[@ScorpionKing1980]

Because of the fork on c7...you really want to give the queen for a pawn??

[@martybelekas1783]

This is sick!

[@mlliarm]

This is brutal indeed. I love it ! Спасибо )

[@cmdmd]

Marvelous, Thank you, Igor. I had learned basic defense against the Scholar’s Mate, but not at this level. I’ll have fun with this.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

🙏

[@aminshafiee7066]

Thanks teacher

[@odinmatanguihan5086]

lol, should've watched this something like this 2 weeks ago. Started playing online 2 weeks ago and that's exactly what they did to me. Learned how to punish them on my own, not nearly as aggressively brutal as yours, but they mess up and always end up queenless. Knight even got a triple fork between queen/king/rook. Got vengeance for those humiliating early games.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

💪👍

[@harrycop7944]

no queen?🥺

[@JairamwithU]

I was waiting for this video. Thanks

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

🙏

[@starwarscommunism]

At 06:59. Why QC4 instead of QxB4?

[@grandpafrogie]

Next thing Knight C2 and ur Queen is dead because fork with King

[@elevated133]

Should be called the caveman’s mate.

[@stefanfinzel3637]

play smooth with .. Nh5 to get whites Q, or more aggressive .. Bg4+ also threatens loss of whites Q. with Bf2

[@italixgaming915]

Bg4+ is also a mate threat: if the King moves, Ne1#. But well, as you said, both moves win on the spot.

[@StevenLemieux-k9d]

This is on a different subject. There’s a painting called “Checkmate” in the Louvre Museum in Paris. Would you do a video on the position on the board?

[@vickies8259]

I wish I would have seen this a few weeks ago!!

[@elektron2kim666]

It's one of those "tricks" or fundamentals to remember and watch out for. There are others like pins, forks and blocks.

[@truthcrackers]

great video!

[@daevydjae]

I remember playing chess with my friend when we were 7 yo or so, and he kept opening with that. Wish my current self could whisper to my younger self these moves.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

You'll probably have an opportunity to make use of this knowledge in your next games.

[@dagifelner9298]

At 7:02 - what If He Just Takes the pawn?

[@ScorpionKing1980]

That looses the queen after Nxc7

[@Lucas-ym2nr]

I always welcome the wayward queen with a kiddie countergambit followed by Be5. I love the queen hunt

[@frankbeerbaum5593]

Nh5!! A wonderful Queen-hunt finds it's end!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Exactly!

[@carminerussano2961]

Great 👍

[@davidlamarca899]

Great video💪👏

[@qzrnuiqntp]

I have the best results with Nf6 after Qh5. Sacrifiying the pawn for activity, quick short castle, harassing the queen, regaining the pawn and usually having a tactical trick to take a early winning advantage. For me, really, Nf6 is by far the easiest way to win against 2_Qh5

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Indeed, it's an interesting option as well.

[@MMircea]

Every time someone tries a scholar's mate on me online, I simply ask in the chat: "Are you serious?"

[@lasaventurasdevitoelgatoma3405]

the best channel for beginners

[@TheRobTV]

when starting out. Wayword queen is a great wy to get back from 100 to 200 ELO. but after that just ply normal chess.

[@fotisgeorgoulis7760]

thanks for yoy helped win omar

[@raselju]

Thank you again for the amazing video. For the puzzle, I think it should be knight moves to H5. It will trap the queen and win the match eventually.

[@ephy1973]

Dark bishop takes pawn and pushes away queen. Light bishop calls check and can no longer be blocked. So king moves to second row. Knight calls checkmate on e1

[@pr0m3teus79]

Damn thank you for this video

[@shripadkulkarni1416]

I think the move you are asking at 10:33 should be bishop from c8 gives a check to the king and he moves to the one position he as to counter attack black knight at d3 at the same time I black knight should be at h5 to launch a counter attack to the queen please let me know if this works I really felt sad after lots of practice my opponent beat me twice with the same stratergy

[@ScorpionKing1980]

At 10:33 there is no check with the bishop.

[@michaelkremer9120]

In the question position play Nh5 trapping the Q.

[@carlfuerza1235]

In your puzzle, i think it's bishop g4 then that's check then king to c2 then Knight to E1 is that checkmate? White queen can eat the bishop g4 but the queen's gonna get eaten by Knight f4

[@raghavkumar86]

Bro is a lifesaver I got lost in these scholarsmate 2 times this week but now On it won't happen ♥️🤟!!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Now it's take to take your revenge!

[@thomasgrabowski2202]

Knight to D4....such a good play :P !

[@D3Eyed]

The most aggressive move for black is knight to h5

[@dazknight9326]

Good advice. I am playing my electronic femuey academy e chess set level 11 and only beat twice loll. It loves to attack the corners on your rook. I hate that... trying to discover defenses. I just ordered the square off kingdom set to hopefully advance some play. My problem is, I am defensive and must be more aggressive with developing more checks with this thing, a lot of times I can have it on the run, but still tricked and lose.

[@keluargajulio1321]

Strong move is Nh5.

[@suryamitrasen8126]

❤️😍👏 lovely variation

[@khinkyawhtwe8603]

Brilliant traps. Thanks

[@dmitrnol]

let's play a grassivly and counter-strike :) Your accent is very cool! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!!

[@vikramsrinivasan8176]

This guy is using a bishop as a bait OMG. Other videos are not this detailed. They stop at taking the bishop but going for the queen is something supernatural.

[@ravivarma239]

So best than previous one. 👍🙏🏻

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

I'm glad you liked it!

[@giuliobosc3067]

Bg4+, if black move Kf2, white Ne1#, if after Bg4+, black move f3; white Be2 and the Queen is lost for black.

[@markomarkovic7029]

Dobar si👍

[@tem2go]

10:25 bishop g4

[@i..i3620]

I have got a LOT of people to play Qh5 and i destroyed tham coz for me it's disrespectful