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The Caro-Kann Smothered Mate

The e7 pawn is pinned by the queen, so Nd6 is mate: the king is boxed in by its own pieces.

Opening: Caro-Kann Defence. Set by White. Level: Intermediate.

Practise setting and escaping it

The moves

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Qe2 Ngf6 6.Nd6#

The mistake: Black plays Ngf6 (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Qe2 Ngf6)

It only works after a mistake

Black must play Ngf6 for it to work. Qe2 is a normal move here, and the trap costs White nothing.

Final position after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Qe2 Ngf6 6.Nd6#

How to avoid it

Ndf6 or e6.

Practise setting and escaping it