Master the Game: How to Win in Chess with 1 Move?

Are you looking to up your chess game and achieve a quick victory? In this article, we will cover everything you need to know to win in chess in just one move.

From understanding the basics of chess to learning different strategies for achieving a fast checkmate, we will guide you through the essentials.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, this article will provide you with valuable insights to help you secure a swift win on the chessboard. Let’s dive in!

What Is Chess?

Chess

is a two-player competitive strategy board game governed by strict rules. It is played on an 8×8 gameboard with 64 squares with each player beginning with 16 pieces moving according to different rules. The object of the game is to get the opponent’s King into a position to where they are unable to prevent it from being captured. The game avoids draw outcomes as much as possible. The pieces on the board are modeled after armies that would commonly face each other in a typical ancient battlefield. Ironically, chess pieces never changed in design although modern warfare significantly changed following the creation and popularization of the game.

Shortly thereafter, the rules began to be modified away from the high-stakes game of warfare originally designed to train the royal elite. While the pieces have maintained their cannon-boy, soldier, and aristocrat archetypes, the practice has also entailed the world broadening of the game. Chess organizations, tournaments, and clubs have spread worldwide. Chess was granted the status of official sports when the FIDE federations were started in 1914. This had led to the spread of opening strategies and special one-move checkmate tactics. The game has remained true to its roots in many ways. A unique feature of chess is how it is used as a training tool in cognitive psychology to study memory, problem-solving, spatial skills, and pattern recognition. It is played as a teaching aid in schools, as a Parkinson’s disease therapy, and as a form of entertainment storytelling in TV, film, novels, and comics. Chess.com the biggest online chess training tool, reports there are approximately 60% of people in the world who know how the game is played. It is one of the most practiced games in the world.

What Is the Objective of Chess?

The objective of chess is to place the opponent’s king in a position of checkmate. This means that the king is in a position to be captured (in check) by an attacking piece and there are no legal moves which would prevent this.

Another path to victory is to create a situation of stalemate. Stalemate is when the player not on turn has no legal moves, but they are not in check. If a player is stalemated, the game is a draw. As the kings can’t participate in the game until the final phase, the primary aim of all chess players is to attack the opponent’s pieces, in particular the opponent’s King.

To help in better understanding how each piece moves and captures in order to achieve this, please refer to the video below on an introduction to the moves of chess pieces, or see the Pieces Section of this Chess Guide.

What Are the Basic Rules of Chess?

The basic rules of chess can be defined in the following six categories.

1. Objective: Victory is winning in chess, often achieved by checkmating.
2. The Board: A standard board of chess has 64 black and white alternating squares, eight by eight, with the identical initial position of pieces on both sides.
3. Pieces and Movement of the Pieces: There are six different types of pieces with different powers and movements.
4. Game Notation: Chess is recorded using the standard European notation system, shown both for the board and spoken by words and abbreviations.
5. Conduct of Play: Chess is played by alternating moves.
6. Game Timing (Chess Clocks): Chess clocks are utilized to keep track of the time each player has left for their game.

How to Set Up the Chess Board?

To set up the chess board, fill the four ranks across the board closest to the player with pieces. There are eight pawns, with one on each of these ranks. Beyond the pawns on these ranks there is a rook, knight, bishop, queen, and king, with the second knight, bishop, and rook immediately adjacent to the first. This means White King rooks are placed on A1 and H1 and the King of White is on E1. For Black, there is a rook, knight, bishop, king, and queen in that order placed from A8 to H8 with the King’s Knight directly next to the King’s Bishop and the other two pieces.

How to Move the Chess Pieces?

Each of the six different chess pieces moves in a particular way. Pieces may move forwards (right, left, or straight ahead), and capture (take the place of) any opponent’s piece. However, the move rules vary for each piece. Different chess pieces can move vertically or diagonally. Pieces cannot pass through other pieces (though the knight can “jump” over other pieces). Pieces can capture their opponents but cannot replace their own pieces during their moves.

The king can move only one square in any direction: horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. The queen can move any number of squares along a straight file, rank, or diagonal, but cannot move through its own pieces. The bishop may move any number of squares diagonally, but cannot move through its own pieces. Rooks may move any number of squares along a file or rank, but cannot move through their own pieces.

The knight may move to any of the eight nearest squares not on the same rank, file, or diagonal. In other words, the knight moves two squares vertically then one square horizontally, or two squares horizontally then one square vertically. The pawn moves forward exactly one square, or optionally two squares when on its starting square, or an L-shaped move two squares forward and one square to the right (or left). The pawn may capture an opponent’s piece by moving one square diagonally forward.

What Is a Checkmate?

A Checkmate is a game-ending move that terminates the game because the opponent’s king has no safe squares to move to. In the context of a chess game, a Checkmate is a move to win in one that is typically executed by trapping an enemy king behind its own troops or forcing it into a position from which it cannot defend itself, and cannot escape as none of its potential moves are to safe squares. Meaning, all the squares the king could move to are either occupied by its own pieces and cannot be captured by its opponent, or are threatened by enemy pieces and cannot be legally moved to by the king. If a king is under attack and has no legally permissible move to escape, it is called a Mate. It is a checkmate if the king has no way to escape from check.

What Are the Different Ways to Win in Chess?

• The main ways to win a chess game are checkmate, resignation, and timeout.
• Checkmate is the only way to win the game at the board with a move. Checkmate indicates that the opponent’s king is in an active state of threat (a check) and that the defending player has no legal or possible set of moves to eliminate the threat. Checkmate can happen in 1 move or an extended series of moves. It marks the very end of the game.
• Resigning is another way to win according to chess rules. Outcomes of resignations include when the conceding player is certain they are about to lose in the next few moves or no longer desires to use time and energy playing the game.
• Timeout is the least favorable outcome of the four ways to win a Chess game. It occurs when a player’s time elapses before their winning opponent makes the final move that results in a checkmate.

Checkmate in One Move

There is only one way to checkmate in one move in a chess game. This, known as Fool’s Mate or Two Move Checkmate, requires White to move their f3 knight’s pawn forward by two squares to f3. Black then has to move their e7 queen’s pawn forward by two squares to e5. Next, White moves their e2 queen’s pawn forward by two squares… to f3 to move to checkmate.

Checkmate in Two Moves

Two-move checkmates are also known as Two-movers. They can never be played in the very first turn of the game, because at least one pawn must be moved, or the use of the Knight in conjunction with a Bishop and rook. Two-move checkmates are rare and typically contain: a queen, a rook, two knights, one knight and one bishop, or two bishops.

An ideal two-move checkmate that demonstrates optimal play is a classic smothered mate known as the Reti opening. Learn how to do it and win in chess in two moves with this example game called An Insufficient Excuse by Lack of Kingcalibre’s Patience. The quick game is explained here Expert explains the quickest way to win a game | Lichess TV (Aron Nimzowitsch Techniques)

Checkmate in Three Moves

A checkmate in three moves is one of the quickest ways to win in chess. With optimal luck, the quickest 3-move checkmate occurs when your opponent makes only bad moves while you progress only with your queen. You make these moves with your queen as follows.

1. d5 Qd4 tracking AF7 H7 with your queen. g6 with your opponent’s pawn
2. d8 Qf7 tracking AF7 H7 with your queen. Qf8 with your opponent’s queen.
3. h5 Qg5 tracking AF7 H7 with your queen. g5 Qg5 tracking AF7 H7 with your opponent’s queen.

The diagram shows how a 3-move checkmate on the right side of the board. Win in 6 moves with Pedersen’s Opening using your queen. Under the basic situation described earlier of both sides moving towards the center, you can win in three moves as long as your opponent’s initial moves give you a certain amount of luck in choosing how to win.

Checkmate in Four Moves

Once again, White wins in four moves. Qxf7+ check, blocking attempts to bring in the queen or a rook for defense. Black has five possible moves: Rd7, Kc8, Bb7, Rg7, cxb7 for next moves, with White’s victory in all cases.

You can use this position to practice your 4-move checkmate strategies in chess:

for White.

1. White moves their White Queen to f7. (Check) (Qf7+)
2. Opponent can move any of their five pieces (Rd7, Kc8, Bb7, Rg7, cxb7+) to block the check.
3. White moves their White Rook to f1. (Check) (Rf1)
4. Opponent’s only move is to move their King to c7. (Kc7)
5. White moves their White Queen to f1, and it is checkmate. (Qf1#) White wins!

Position: 4-move checkmate in Chess

r . . . k . . . r
. n . . . . . p
. . p . . . . .
. . . . p . . .
. . . P P P . .
. . . . . . N .
P . PB R KB . . P P
. p . . . n p p
r . . . k . . . r

What Is the Fastest Possible Checkmate?

The fastest possible chess general checkmate is the Fool’s Mate and involves two moves. This occurs when white plays 1.f3 and black responds with 1…e5. On the second white move, 2.g4 is played resulting in checkmate as seen in a game between J. H. Blackburne and Amos Burn in 1868.

The fastest checkmate involving the king relies on Fool’s Mate in two moves from black. The fastest total possible checkmate featuring this comment was found by Richard Vida, a software engineer in Toronto. Total checks of one move can never be achieved due to black needing to respond after the opening white move. If the other player does not, the only move they can make is placing or moving the king out of checkmate, which disrupts the whole idea of achieving checkmate in only one move.

In the FOOL’S MATE variant the fastest possible checkmate is done in 2 moves.

What Are Some Strategies for Achieving a Quick Checkmate?

These are some strategies to achieve a quick checkmate in chess:

1. Location determination: Determine the base locations with which the king or queen can be checkmated.
2. Activating the queen is key: Bring your queen out relatively early, as opposed to waiting for the middle game.
3. Trade often: Especially after establishing queenside power, move quickly to trade pawns and pieces.
4. No defensive moves: Try to avoid making defensive moves and only move towards checkmate.

Fool’s Mate

Fool’s mate is the fastest possible checkmate in chess happening as early as Move 2. This is also called the Two-Move Checkmate. For Fool’s mate, White player initiates play by pushing their f-pawn to its maximum distance of 2 squares forward to dominate both e5 and f6 squares. If Black then advances both their queen’s and king’s knights to c6 and f6, leaving their king and subsequently rook without spaces to occupy and protect, then white performs Move 2 by moving their g-pawn to g4, thereby threatening black’s uncaptured f6 pawn (which is blocking the black’s king’s escape). Black may attempt to provide another pawn space, but moving the f7 pawn will expose the black king and leave it vulnerable.

Scholar’s Mate

Scholar’s Mate is another fool’s mate that will allow approximately the best move according to The Clueless One book to win in chess in one move. Scholar’s Mate does mean being a seriously clueless opponent along the lines of the worst-case scenario assumptions often required to test a design or methodology. This inferior version of the original fool’s mate leaves Black deficient by having just enough theory on the position to know of this move. Scholar’s Mate starts by moving your White Bishop-Pawn to f4. This opens lines for your Black Bishop to attack f7 and your White Queen to attack f3 and if your opponent makes a foolish move leaves a gap for your White Queen to quickly get to f3. To win with Scholar’s Mate, move your pawn from f4 to f7 resulting in checkmate while not only Whites but Black’s King and Queen Side Knights, King, Bishop Side Rook, and Queen are all still in place.

However, there is fierce debate among chess educators whether Scholar’s Mate should even be taught at all. Expert chess players and educators are almost unanimous that teaching Scholar’s Mate may only expose novice players to foolish moves on the part of their more capable opponents. They encourage teaching from the white side how to beat Scholar’s Mate rather than to unwittingly participate in it.

Legal’s Mate

Legal’s Mate is a checkmate that can occur as early as move 2 if White does not protect against it. The trap won’t fool experienced or better players since they are familiar with it, but it may work for beginners. This checkmate is named after the French-Dutch player François-André Danican Philidor under the pseudonym Sarratt competing against an NN player in the 1870s at the London Chess Club.

The checkmate positions after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Bg4 4.Nc3 g6 5.Nxe5 Bxd1 Bxf7+ Ke7 7.Nd5# show how easily Legal’s Mate can be executed if the passive player misses the threats. Because 2.Nf3 is the most logical 1.e4 move, this version of Legal’s Mate has an extremely statistically low chance of success in an actual match.

Legals’ Mate goes back to at least 1610 when the chess book entitled The Royall Game of Chesse-Play by J. Rowling was published. It would work against Legal if the idler was expecting an insufficient move from Whites to Blacks side. It is even possible to simulate Legal’s Mate after an alternate series of moves as long as one side’s King’s Bishop Pawn moves out without its corresponding King’s Knight Pawn having previously moved.

Lasker’s Mate

Lasker’s Mate is a chess term used to describe a 1 move win against an opponent who has moved all the pieces in a tight formation towards their back rank and has just moved one piece such that one of their corner square is left undefended. In this situation, the queen can deliver the checkmate against the king. The term origins date back to 1914 when the World Chess Champion Emmanuel Lasker won a game with this uncommon tactical solution.

Attaining Lasker’s Mate is very uncommon, and there are less than 30 examples where it has ever been attained recorded at chessgames.com the premier internal chess game database. The most notorious case is Valdimar Gudmundsson versus Felice Romano in Reykjavik in 2002, where despite it being a simultaneous exhibition game, Romano did manage to fall victim to this rare final blow.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Win in Chess in 1 Move?

1. Is it really possible to win in chess in just one move?

Yes, it is technically possible to win in chess in one move. However, this is an extremely rare occurrence and requires a very specific set of circumstances and moves from both players. It is not a reliable strategy for winning a game of chess.

2. What is the most common way to win in chess in 1 move?

The most common way to win in chess in one move is through a Fool’s Mate, also known as the Two-Move Checkmate. This occurs when a player makes two specific moves that result in their opponent’s king being trapped and unable to escape.

3. How can I increase my chances of winning in chess using one move?

While winning in one move is not a reliable strategy, you can increase your chances by setting up traps and anticipating your opponent’s moves. It is also important to have a strong understanding of basic chess tactics and strategies.

4. Are there any other ways to win in chess in just one move?

Yes, there are a few other variations of one-move checkmates, such as the Arabian Mate and the Légal Mate. These again require specific moves from both players and are not common occurrences.

5. Can I win in chess in one move if my opponent makes a mistake?

While it is possible for your opponent to make a mistake that leads to a one-move checkmate, it is not something you can rely on. It is always important to play strategically and not solely rely on your opponent’s errors.

6. Is it considered unsportsmanlike to try and win in chess in one move?

While it is not against the rules, it is generally considered unsportsmanlike to attempt to win in one move as it takes away from the strategic and competitive nature of the game. It is more fulfilling to win a game through skillful and calculated moves.