Chess Puzzle #25277

CHESS PUZZLE, FEN 8/p1N3kp/3q1np1/1pp3Nn/1P3P2/PQ5P/6PK/2br1r2 w - -

Added by:	bbuurrcchh
Added on:	19-May-10
Description:
Difficulty:	chess puzzle 8/p1N3kp/3q1np1/1pp3Nn/1P3P2/PQ5P/6PK/2br1r2 w - -
Attempts:	544
Solved:	371 (68%)


White to move, mate in 5

Comments: (8) » Last

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rohit0107
25-Dec-20, 06:44

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Smothered mate.

Another fine example of smothered mate.

dehershey
25-Dec-20, 15:01

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This is not a smothered mate...

A smothered mate is when the king is completely surrounded by his own pieces. In the final position g7 is unoccupied but covered by the knight on e8.

olderguy
25-Dec-20, 16:25

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Not smothered..

but still a fine example.

wardh
25-Dec-20, 16:52

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I'm sure everyone started with Qf7+. And then it was clear you had to distract the N on f6 to attack h7.

scottsquatch
27-Dec-20, 11:47

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"Mostly Smothered"

Black threatens immediate checkmate, so white must check black on every move. The trick was corralling black into a corner, and then with the eventual queen sacrifice, forcing a "mostly smothered" mate, lol.

dehershey
28-Dec-20, 06:42

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An example of a smothered mate...

gameknot.com

capafan
27-Feb-26, 03:48

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First 2 won't work

1. Qf7+ can't finish with Q×h7# b/c N@f6.
1. Ne8+ is a nice KQ fork, but W can't count on 1...N×e8 since that loses for Black (2. Qf7+ & mate next move). So Black will play 1...Kh6 or Kh8:

Fortunately, W has 2. Nf7+ (if 1...Kh6, 2. Nf7#). If 1...Kh8, 2. Nf7+...Kg8, 3. Nh6 (disc.dbl.chk.)...Kh8, and now the big finish, 4. Qg8+...N×g8 (forced), 5. Nf7#!
(scottsquach: "Mostly Smothered Mate" 😅)

Black never even had just one move, to play ...Rh1#.

capafan
27-Feb-26, 04:14

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Outstanding Teaching Example!!! 😃

Themes:
1. Discovered Double Check
2. K & Q Knight Fork
3. Q sacrifice
4. Mostly Smothered Mate
5. 2 Knights vs. Q, 2R, 2N & B
6. Skewered Attack (move #2)
7. Keeping the Initiative 100% (or lose)
8. Practical Example from a Real Game

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