Ep. 22: Party Time!

Checkmaya · 25 of 27

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Real Chess Corner

Kingsley's birthday puzzle (mate in 2): 1.Qg8+!! Rxg8 2.Nf7#. The queen jumps into the corner - and the rook has to take her. Now the black king is surrounded by its own rook and pawns, and the knight gives checkmate.

Why it's called a "smothered mate": The king is smothered by its own pieces - it has no free square to run to. Only a knight can deliver this mate, because only a knight can jump over the wall.

Lesson: When the enemy king is boxed in by its own pieces, look for a knight check. And maybe a cake shaped like one.

Happy birthday, Maya! Fifteen looks goated on you. Love from Checkmaya

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Download PDF to print & colour

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