MuskogeePhoenix.com, Muskogee, OK

Features

Related Photos

Discussion

September 1, 2008

Death’s cousin: White to mate in two

“I want to die in my sleep like my grandfather . . . not yelling and screaming like the passengers in his car,” quips comedian William Shriner.

In this week’s position black’s king figuratively dies in his sleep. With this hint in mind please try to find how white mates in two.

Black’s pieces are ominously posed. Black’s pawn at b7 is to ready to promote with check. Black’s rook attacks white's queen, while white's knight is also under attack.

Quick, decisive action is required. White strikes first by moving its queen to g8, checking black. Black’s reply is forced. Its rook, not the king, must capture the queen.

After the rook takes the queen, white mates by moving its knight to f7. The queen sacrifice caused the king to trap itself in the corner and the knight attack exploits this.

This is called a smothered mate. In this sense, chess shows that sleep is indeed death's cousin.

Text Only
Features