Smothered Mate Puzzle Generator

Master one of the most beautiful checkmates in chess. Create PDF worksheets dedicated to the Smothered Mate, an elegant knight checkmate delivered to a king completely trapped by its own pieces, often set up by a brilliant queen sacrifice.

How to Create Your Worksheet

1. Select Difficulty

Choose a level. Beginner puzzles show the final knight check, while advanced puzzles include the entire queen sacrifice combination.

2. Choose Quantity

Select how many Smothered Mate puzzles you want to solve.

3. Generate & Preview

Instantly see your unique set of puzzles featuring this iconic checkmating pattern.

4. Download PDF

Download your worksheet to study the full sequence, from the initial sacrifice to the final, elegant knight move.

Smothered Mate Worksheet Features

Learn a Beautiful Pattern

Practice the iconic combination, often called "Philidor's Legacy," to add a powerful and surprising weapon to your tactical arsenal.

Master the Queen Sacrifice

These puzzles are the ultimate training tool for understanding when and how to make a spectacular queen sacrifice for a forced mate.

Understand the Power of the Knight

Appreciate the unique ability of the knight to attack squares that other pieces cannot, making this mate possible.

Create Unforgettable Moments

Executing a smothered mate in a real game is one of the most satisfying moments a chess player can experience.

Smothered Mate FAQs

Why is it called "smothered"?

It's called smothered because the king is completely boxed in ("smothered") by its own friendly pieces, leaving it with no escape squares from the knight's check.

Does a smothered mate always involve a queen sacrifice?

Not always, but the most famous and instructive examples do. The sacrifice is used to force a piece (usually a rook) to capture it, thereby blocking the king's last escape square.