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Smothered Mate – The Knight's Triumph
🎬 Checkmate Patterns Playlist
What is Smothered Mate?
Definition: A checkmate delivered by a Knight where the enemy King is "smothered" (surrounded) by its own pieces and cannot move.
The unique ability of the Knight to jump over other pieces makes it the only piece capable of delivering this mate. It usually happens in the corner, often following a spectacular Queen sacrifice.
Real Game Masterpieces
1. King in a tight spot
Unzicker vs. Dankert
1...Qg3+ 2.Rxg3 (2.Kh1 Qxf3 3.gxf3 Nf2+) 2...hxg3+ 3.Kh1 Nf2++
2. Nikitin/Sakarov vs. Kasparov
Kasparov, G (Black)
1...Re2! wins due to e.g. 2.Qxe2 Qxh2+ 3.Nxh2 Ng3 mate. The game actually ended (2.Re1 Rxf2 0-1)
3. Enclosed King
Najdorf vs. Anon
1. Qh5 Bxd5 2. Rxd5 Qxd5 3. Qxf7+ Qxf7 4. Nd7++
4. Never resign a won position (12)
Dekhanov vs. K.
1. g4+ fxg4+ 2. Nxg4+ g5 (2... Rc5 3. Nf6+ Qxf6 4. Qe2#) (2... Qxb5 3. Nf6#) 3. Qe8+ Qg6 4. Nf6# 1-0
5. Svenn vs. Kinnmark
Svenn vs. Kinnmark
1.Qf5! threatens both Qxd7 and Qxh7 mate and if 1...Qxf5 2.Nf7#
6. 2001 - A Space Odyssey
Frank vs. HAL
1... Qf3 2. Bxf3 (2. h4 Nh3+ 3. Kh2 Ng4#) (2. Qc8 Rxc8 3. h4 Nh3+ 4. Kh2 Ng4#) (2. d4 Nh3#) 2... Nxf3# 0-1
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Philidor Legacy?
It is a specific forced sequence: Check, Discovered Double Check, Queen Sacrifice (to force the smother), and finally Knight Mate.
Why is it called "Smothered"?
Because the King is literally smothered (suffocated) by its own friendly pieces, preventing it from moving to safety.