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Stamma's Mate

Stamma's mate is a knight mate where the king is trapped by its own pieces, in the same family as the smothered mate. The knight gives check, and the king's own rook and pawns fill every escape square.

The finished shape

This is the finished shape. Stamma's mate is a knight mate where the king is trapped by its own pieces, in the same family as the smothered mate.

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 h

The 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 h

How 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 h

Key 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.