Smothered Mate
Smothered mate is a knight mate where the king is smothered by its own pieces, so every escape square is filled by a friendly piece. The knight gives check, and the king's own rook and pawns fill every escape square.
The finished shape
This is the finished shape. Smothered mate is a knight mate where the king is smothered by its own pieces, so every escape square is filled by a friendly piece.
FEN: 6rk/5Npp/8/8/8/8/8/4K3 b - - 0 1
a b c d e f g h
8 . . . . . . r k 8
7 . . . . . N p p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . . . . 2
1 . . . . K . . . 1
a b c d e f g hThe worked example
White plays the mating move here. The knight gives check, and the king's own rook and pawns fill every escape square.
FEN: 3N2rk/5ppp/8/8/8/8/8/4K3 w - - 0 1
a b c d e f g h
8 . . . N . . r k 8
7 . . . . . p p p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . . . . 2
1 . . . . K . . . 1
a b c d e f g hHow to prevent it
Black plays h6 first. The pawn move opens an escape square, so the mate no longer works.
FEN: 3N2rk/5ppp/8/8/8/8/8/4K3 b - - 0 1
a b c d e f g h
8 . . . N . . r k 8
7 . . . . . p p p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . . . . 2
1 . . . . K . . . 1
a b c d e f g hKey points
- The knight gives check, and the king's own rook and pawns fill every escape square.
- The worked example ends with Nf7.
- To prevent it, avoid boxing your own king in with your own pieces.
- Black plays h6 first. The pawn move opens an escape square, so the mate no longer works.
- Check every escape square before you play the mating move, because one open square breaks the mate.
Try it Yourself
Edit the code, then press Run.
Running is simulated · Rust Playground
Exercise
Find the checkmate in this position.