Smothered mate puzzles
75 free smothered mate puzzles from real games, rated 883 to 2303. Solve them on the board below; your accuracy feeds your weakness map.
What is a smothered mate?
In a smothered mate the king can't move because every neighbouring square is occupied by its own pieces, and a knight delivers the check that can't be blocked.
The classic version (Philidor's legacy) uses a queen check to force a rook into the corner, then the knight mates. It's rare, which is exactly why it's easy to miss.
Common mistake
Rejecting the queen sacrifice because it 'loses the queen'. Calculate the forced recapture first.
How to spot it
Look for a king in the corner surrounded by its own rook and pawns.
Knight checks can't be blocked; if the king has no square, a knight check is mate.
A queen sacrifice next to the king that must be taken by a rook can set up the smother.
Related themes
- Mate in 1One move, game over. Train the reflex.
- Mate in 2A forcing move, then the finish.
- Mate in 3Longer forcing lines. Calculation practice.
- Back-rank mateThe king trapped behind its own pawns.
- Anastasia's mateKnight and rook trap the king on the edge.
Let the adaptive drill find your weakest pattern
Puzzles: Lichess puzzle database (CC0), filtered for popularity and play count. See how Weakspot works.