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Chess traps

Caro-Kann Smothered Mate

Caro-Kann Defense · beginner · set by White

A single knight move gives checkmate on move 6.

After 5.Qe2 the natural 5...Ngf6?? leaves the king with no squares: Nd6 is a smothered mate.

Move by move

  1. 1. e4: King's pawn.
  2. 1... c6: The Caro-Kann.
  3. 2. d4: The center.
  4. 2... d5: Black strikes back.
  5. 3. Nc3: Development.
  6. 3... dxe4: Black takes.
  7. 4. Nxe4: White recaptures.
  8. 4... Nd7: Development.
  9. 5. Qe2: The queen on e2 pins the e7 pawn.
  10. 5... Ngf6 (the mistake): Natural, but it blocks the last escape square.
  11. 6. Nd6#: Smothered mate!

Safe instead: Ndf6, e6

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