The smothered mate
Step 1 of 6
The black king is on h8. Its own pieces stand on g8, g7 and h7 next to it. The knight on f7 gives check, and the king has nowhere to go. This is called a smothered mate: the king is smothered by its own pieces.
Watch the most famous way to a smothered mate.
Move 0 of 7
Mate in one move with the knight.
Task in progress
This time the king is in the other corner. Mate in one move with the knight.
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Mate in two moves. Sacrifice your queen on a square where it also closes the king's last escape square.
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Now some smothered mate puzzles from real games.
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