Day 471: Smothered mate
Lesson of the day
The smothered mate suffocates a king buried under its own army: every neighboring square is blocked by friendly pieces, and the knight — needing no open lines — delivers the blow. The classic mechanism: knight check, king hides in the corner, a queen sacrifice forces a rook to plug the last hole, and the knight mates. Look for a cornered king surrounded by its own pieces and a knight one hop away. Do not mourn the queen — she only opens the door.
Warm-up
White to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
White to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
Black to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
Black to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
White to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
Black to move — find the best continuation
Review
White to move — find the best continuation
White to move — find the best continuation
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 472 →