What is Smothered mate in chess?
Checkmate by a knight when the king is boxed in by its own pieces.
The king is surrounded by friendly pieces and can't move, so a knight check ends the game. The classic pattern uses a queen sacrifice to force it.
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Analyze my games →More chess terms
- DevelopmentBringing your knights and bishops off the back rank into the game.
- TempoA single move counted as a unit of time.
- InitiativeBeing the side making threats and dictating play.
- OutpostA square (often supported by a pawn) that an enemy pawn can never attack.
- Weak squareA square that cannot be defended by a friendly pawn, making it vulnerable to enemy occupation.
- HoleA square in your position that your own pawns can never defend, creating a permanent weakness.