11 April, 2015

Not a Smothered mate

Here's another CTB position, and no, its not a smothered mate despite so many pieces on the board and around the king.

Its also notable that there isn't a forced mate, although that is the solution given in CTB.

Admittedly, if you don't follow the given solution ( ie the reply from Black ) , then Black is on a fairly downward course, but technically, its not forced !

Its not a smothered mate either, or have I already said that ?  This mate is often termed ....


White to move

Solution if required [ 1. Qxf6+ Kxf6 2. Bd5#    and its an epaulette mate, I think ]




05 April, 2015

More tactics on a stifling theme....

As I trawl through CTB slowly, I find some interesting positions. 

Here's one related to a theme that I seem to enjoy.

Not that hard, but you'll probably dismiss the solution first time around.





Solution if required [ 1. Ng5+ Kh6 2. Rh7+ Bxh7 3. Nf7 mate ]