smothered mate

American  

noun

Chess.

1. checkmate delivered by a knight when the king's mobility is restricted by his own pieces.

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smothered mate British  

noun

1. chess checkmate given by a knight when the king is prevented from moving by surrounding men

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Etymology

Origin of smothered mate

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

Eventually yearn to execute a perfect smothered mate.

From Slate • Sep. 18, 2014

The players were told to reach checkmate as quickly as possible, but once they recognized the smothered mate as a possibility they became seemingly incapable of noticing the more efficient strategy.

From Scientific American • Mar. 17, 2014

Conversely, when the smothered mate was not viable, the players’ gazes shifted to regions of the chessboard crucial to the swifter strategy.</p>

From Scientific American • Mar. 17, 2014

This is a familiar example of smothered mate, which you will find can be effected by no other Piece than the Knight.

From The Blue Book of Chess Teaching the Rudiments of the Game, and Giving an Analysis of All the Recognized Openings by Staunton, Howard