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50+2 Chess Quick Wins: Tactical ideas for exciting chess for beginner players. Buy on Amazon! US | CA | UK | DE | FR | IT | ES | NL | AU

There is something that is exciting in getting a quick win in chess against your opponent. For the beginner player encountering a quick win (or a quick loss) for the first time, the introduction to these lines can feel like discovering a secret society!

My book, “50+2 Chess Quick Wins: Tactical ideas for exciting chess for beginner players” was published and released on Amazon earlier this year. This is the third video and article of a series that will cover the first section of the book, that explains tactical ideas and themes that underlie many quick win games!

In the Introduction we learnt two tactical ideas from the Fool’s Mate and then the Scholar’s Mate – the weak f-pawn, and the checkmate pattern with the queen capturing the f-pawn. In my book, I’ve listed this tactical as the “Bishop + Queen f-pawn attack”. Indeed, we can think of the Fool’s Mate and the Scholar’s Mate as a very specific implementation of this tactical pattern, which is often available over a wide range of openings and positions.

The tactic is based on several facts of the opening stages of chess:

• The f-pawn is uniquely vulnerable in that it has no defenders other than the king
• This implies that if the queen captures the f-pawn (which comes with check) it must be captured back by the king itself. However, where there are two attackers on the f2 or f7 square, the king cannot recapture since the king cannot be in check at the end of the player’s turn.
• Thus, if the king has no escape squares, then this will be checkmate.

Why the bishop? The bishop is a long-range piece, and the king’s bishop can be developed to attack the f-pawn as early as move 2, as we see in the Scholar’s Mate. Furthermore, from a psychological perspective, this is often considered the “normal” development square for the king’s bishop which means that the opponent is more likely to be complacent about its position, insofar as not being sensitised to the threat it could represent.

This video for beginner players will cover the tactical idea diagrammatically and revisit the Scholar’s Mate from the perspective of this tactical pattern. Then we’ll look at two quick wins games (#6 and #50) from the book highlighting the tactical pattern in those games.

[Event "Weak f-pawn"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/8/4K3 w - - 0 1"]

1. Kd1 {[%c_arrow
a8a7;keyPressed;none;from;a8;opacity;0.8;to;a7;persistent;false,b8d7;keyPressed;none;from;b8;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false,c8b7;keyPressed;none;from;c8;opacity;0.8;to;b7;persistent;false,c8d7;keyPressed;none;from;c8;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false,d8c7;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;c7;persistent;false,d8d7;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false,d8e7;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false,e8d7;keyPressed;none;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false,e8e7;keyPressed;none;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false,e8f7;keyPressed;none;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false,f8e7;keyPressed;none;from;f8;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false,f8g7;keyPressed;none;from;f8;opacity;0.8;to;g7;persistent;false,g8e7;keyPressed;none;from;g8;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false,h8h7;keyPressed;none;from;h8;opacity;0.8;to;h7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false,e7;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false,d7;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false,c7;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;c7;persistent;false,b7;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;b7;persistent;false,a7;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;a7;persistent;false,g7;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;g7;persistent;false,h7;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;h7;persistent;false]
In the opening, the f-pawn is unique in that it has only a single defender, the
king (red). The centre pawns are defended by multiple pieces (blue), and other
pawns defended by at least one non-king piece (green).} *


[Event "Tactical pattern: Bishop + Queen f-pawn attack"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3qk3/8/8/3Q4/2B5/8/8/4K3 w - - 0 1"]

{[%c_arrow
c4f7;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false]} 1. Qf7# {[%c_effect
e1;square;e1;type;Winner,e8;square;e8;type;CheckmateBlack][%c_arrow
f7e8;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false,f7f8;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;f8;persistent;false,f7a7;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;a7;persistent;false,c4f7;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false,f8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f8;persistent;false,e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false,d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false,f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false]}
1-0


[Event "Game 1 - Scholar's Mate"]
[Result "1-0"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 {[%c_arrow
c4f7;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false] Bishop attacks the
f-pawn} 2... Nc6 {[%c_arrow
c4f7;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false]} 3. Qh5 {[%c_arrow
h5f7;keyPressed;none;from;h5;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false,c4f7;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false] Queen also attacks
the f-pawn} 3... Nf6 {[%c_arrow
c4f7;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false,h5f7;keyPressed;none;from;h5;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false]} 4. Qxf7# {[%c_effect
e1;square;e1;type;Winner,e8;square;e8;type;CheckmateBlack][%c_arrow
f7e8;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false,f7e7;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false,c4f7;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false,e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false,f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false]}
1-0


[Event "Game 2 - Napoleon Attack"]
[Result "0-1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Qf3 {[%c_arrow
f3f7;keyPressed;none;from;f3;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false] The Napoleon Attack
is like a worse version of the Wayward Queen attack} 2... Nc6 {[%c_arrow
f3f7;keyPressed;none;from;f3;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false]} 3. Bc4 {[%c_arrow
c4f7;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false,f3f7;keyPressed;none;from;f3;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false]} 3... Qf6 {[%c_arrow
f6f2;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false] And the Napoleon
Attack is blocked. Notice the Black queen has a potential attack on White's
f-pawn.} 4. Qe2 $2 {[%c_effect e2;square;e2;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f6f2;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false]} 4... Nd4 {[%c_arrow
f6f2;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false] The knight chases
White's queen back to d1, which means that the queen is no longer guarding the
f-pawn.} 5. Qd1 {[%c_arrow
f6f2;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false]} 5... Bc5 {[%c_arrow
c5f2;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,f6f2;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false] Bishop to it's usual
development square, but also a potential future attack on the f-pawn} 6. Nf3
{[%c_arrow
f6f2;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,c5f2;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false]} 6... Nxf3+
{[%c_arrow
f6f2;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,c5f2;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false]} 7. gxf3 $2 {[%c_effect
f3;square;f3;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f6f2;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,c5f2;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false]} 7... Qh4 {[%c_arrow
h4f2;keyPressed;none;from;h4;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,c5f2;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false] The black queen and
bishop now both have an attack on the f-pawn, which at present is defended only
by White's king} 8. f4 {[%c_arrow
h4f2;keyPressed;none;from;h4;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,c5f2;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false]} 8... Qxf2#
{[%c_effect e8;square;e8;type;Winner,e1;square;e1;type;CheckmateWhite][%c_arrow
f2e1;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false,f2f1;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;f1;persistent;false,f2e2;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;e2;persistent;false,c5f2;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false,f1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f1;persistent;false,e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false,f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false]}
0-1


[Event "Game 3 - Quick Wins #50"]
[Result "1-0"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {[%c_arrow
c4f7;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false] Italian Game - the
bishop's normal development square has an attack on Black's f-pawn} 3... h6
{[%c_arrow
c4f7;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false] The Anti-Fried Liver
Defense} 4. d4 {[%c_arrow
c4f7;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false]} 4... exd4 {[%c_arrow
c4f7;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false]} 5. Nxd4 {[%c_arrow
c4f7;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false]} 5... Nxd4 {[%c_arrow
c4f7;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false]} 6. Qxd4 {[%c_arrow
c4f7;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false] The trades have
created a semi-opened d-file with the white queen developed to the centre of the
board} 6... b6 $4 {[%c_effect b6;square;b6;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c4f7;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false]} 7. Qd5 $1 {[%c_effect
d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d5a8;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;a8;persistent;false,c4f7;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a8;persistent;false,f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false]
White takes advantage of Black's blunder of opening the long light square
diagonal. There is now a fork of Black's rook on a8 and the f-pawn which is
checkmate with the bishop-queen battery.} 7... c6 $4 {[%c_effect
c6;square;c6;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c4f7;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false]} 8. Qxf7# {[%c_effect
e1;square;e1;type;Winner,e8;square;e8;type;CheckmateBlack][%c_arrow
f7e8;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false,f7e7;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false,c4f7;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false,e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false,f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false]}
1-0