Scholar's mate
Avoiding Scholar's Mate
If Black played 2...Bc5 instead of 2...Nc6, then 3...g6?? is a blunder because it doesn't defend the e5-pawn (Black loses the king rook to 4.Qxe5+ followed by 5.Qxh8). The best move is 3...Qe7! (see diagram), protecting both the f7- and e5-pawns; and now Black threatens 4...Nf6, gaining a tempo by attacking White's queen. Play might continue 4.Nf3 (attacking the e5-pawn a second time) 4...Nc6 5.Ng5 Nh6, when White has no way to keep up the pressure and will soon have to pull his exposed pieces back.
Scholar's mate-8