← Basic Checkmates
Smothered mate
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
Step 1 of 2
Black's king on h8 is walled in by its own rook on g8 and pawns on g7 and h7 — it has no move at all. A knight is the one piece that can exploit that: it checks over the wall, and nothing can block a knight check. The white knight on e5 reaches f7.