Hi Mad One.
I know it's moot but in it's purest form the smothering pieces
should be the same colour of the King.
The Oxford Companion to Chess state that is the condition.
However they do add:
"...or using the term loosely, surrounded by men of either colour."
So I am right and you are losely right. 😉
A Pure Mate (where there is no loose defintion) every flight square
must be covered by a single attacking piece and no more.
In the posted example.
The square e7 is covered by no less than 3 times so
it is not a pure smothered mate.
An example of a Pure Mate
The King is in check and all flights squares g7,h8, f7 and f8
are covered by only one piece.
The Oxford ends with this Smothered Mate study by Seletsky 1933.
You would not think at first glance (or even your 3rd and 4th glance)
that a smothered mate is in there.
Originally posted by greenpawn34Who am I to argue with the ultimate authority, Oxford U. and Messrs. Hooper and Whyld? I can accept being loosely right. (Although I might have a problem with being "losely" right. 😛 )
Hi Mad One.
I know it's moot but in it's purest form the smothering pieces
should be the same colour of the King.
The Oxford Companion to Chess state that is the condition.
However they do add:
"...or using the term loosely, surrounded by men of either colour."
So I am right and you are losely right. 😉
Edit - Actually, I never claimed to be right. I was just asking the question, sort of like Andy Rooney. 🙂
Originally posted by greenpawn34Sorry, I should have explained. He had a short segment at the end of every "60 Minutes" episode on U.S. TV, where he'd bring up silly subjects and ask silly, rhetorical questions. I'm not aware that he played chess.
Andy Rooney??
What's his grade?
Originally posted by Mad RookNow you know the rest of the story .... Good Day ...
Sorry, I should have explained. He had a short segment at the end of every "60 Minutes" episode on U.S. TV, where he'd bring up silly subjects and ask silly, rhetorical questions. I'm not aware that he played chess.
(Paul Harvey)
Hi Wand.
Two interesting games with neat mates.
That 3...Be6 looks odd (but possibly playble) d4 instead of 0-0 maybe.
Never liked 3.Bc4 there though, 3.d4 (Morphy) is the move.
White never got his Queens side attack going.
In the 2nd game White pulled all his bits towards the centre like
a good Russian schoolboy and then closed the centre inviting
the Kingside attack to come forward unhindred.
Good stuff.