Smothered Mate - Chess Tactic

Surprise Checkmate:
 Mastering the Smothered Mate


The smothered mate is a chess tactic that delivers a checkmate with a twist! Imagine using your opponent's own pieces to box their king in, leaving them with no escape. This post equips you with the knowledge and resources to become a smothered mate master!

Understanding the Smothered Mate in a Flash:

  • Knight's Surprise Move: Unlike other pieces, the knight can jump over obstacles, making it the perfect weapon for a smothered mate.
  • King's Suffocation: The key is to maneuver your opponent's pieces around their king, creating a cage they can't flee.
  • Cornered King: Often, smothered mates occur in the corner of the board where escape routes are most limited.

This post breaks down the smothered mate, equips you with practice puzzles and video lessons, and even reveals hidden traps in popular openings! Let's dive in and conquer the smothered mate!

Smothered Mate Chess Articles


Smothered Mate - This comprehensive guide from Chess.com provides a clear explanation of the smothered mate, along with illustrative examples to help you recognize the pattern in your games.

The Beautiful and Surprisingly Common Smothered Mate - ChessFox Article - This piece not only delves into the mechanics of the smothered mate but also highlights its prevalence in chess games, making it a valuable resource for both beginners and experienced players. 

Smothered Mate LiChess Studies

LiChess offers fantastic interactive studies to elevate your smothered mate game!

  • The Smothered Mate - 14 Chapter Interactive Study - Lessons w/ examples and Master Games

  • Puzzles: Smothered Mate - 19 Chapter Interactive Study -Dive deeper with a collection of 19 puzzle chapters focused solely on smothered mates. Test your tactical vision and recognition of smothered mate opportunities.

  • SMOTHERED MATE - 16 Chapter Study - This interactive study combines lessons with illustrative examples

New to Lichess studies? These interactive tools allow you to explore chess concepts and variations move-by-move, perfect for testing your understanding and deepening your knowledge.

Smothered Mate: Game Collections

Ready to see smothered mates unfold in real games? These collections showcase the smothered mate in all its glory

Chessgames.com

  • Smothered Mate Examples - This lesson on Chessgames.com features 21 games where the smothered mate takes center stage. Analyze these games, learn from the masters, and see how they crafted these surprising checkmates.

  • Mate (Smothered Mate) - 25 Games  (19 are in the Puzzles: Smothered Mate LiChess Study above)

Animated chess game (Anderssen vs. Dufresne, 1852) showcasing the famous smothered mate delivered by the white knight in 23 moves.
Witness the brilliance!
Anderssen delivers a smothered mate in just 23 moves (The Immortal Game, 1852).


Remember: Studying real games is a fantastic way to solidify your tactical understanding. By analyzing how others have achieved the smothered mate, you'll be better equipped to recognize and execute this tactic yourself!

Smothered Mate Video Lessons


Must-Know Smothered Mates in the Opening Stage | Chess Beginner Lecture - 19 min -   IM Alex Astaneh tailors this lesson for beginners, guiding you through creating smothered mates in the opening phase and showcasing illustrative examples.

Top 3 Smothered Checkmates every Chess Player must know | Basic Checkmates | Alex Astaneh - 7 Min -a quick and informative video explaining the smothered mate concept, common smothered mate patterns, and situations where you can leverage this tactic.

Smothered Mate: Learn the Pattern | Tactics Time! - 30 Min - Dive deep into the smothered mate pattern with the St. Louis Chess Club. This 30-minute lesson explores puzzles and real games featuring the smothered mate, helping you solidify your understanding and recognition.
Video below
This St.Louis Chess Club video
 dives deep into the smothered mate pattern

Smothered Mate Opening Traps


Top 4 Traps (Smothered Mate Edition) - 8 Min - count down the top 4 best smothered checkmate traps in chess. There is one for white, and three for black.

Caro-Kann Trap | Smothered Mate In 6 Moves! - 4 Min

Ruy Lopez Opening Traps: Fishing Pole and Smothered Mate. Best Ideas, Gambits, Strategies, Tactics - 4 min

The famous Smothered mate trap against Queen's Gambit - 1 Min

6 Cool Opening Traps For Quick SMOTHERED Mates - 17 Min - six different opening tricks & traps that may lead to some beautiful smothered checkmates



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