This newsletter is created for students who want to improve their Chess and for parents who want structured, meaningful chess learning for their children.
Every edition includes:
A clear topic explanation
Practice puzzles
A daily challenge puzzle
Our focus is on building thinking skills, confidence, and consistency at the board.
Thank you for subscribing—we’re happy you’re here.
— Kar & Kish
1️⃣ Semi-Smothered Mate
Explanation:
Semi- Smothered checkmate occurs when the enemy king is surrounded by its own pieces and one of your pieces deliver a checkmate.
Example Puzzle:
White to Play
Here, in the above puzzle, White can play Bd5 forcing black knight to play Nf7 and then white can deliver a checkmate by playing Rh8
Bd5 Nf7 Rh8#
2️⃣ Practice Puzzles
Instructions:
Try to solve the puzzles without moving the pieces.
Write down your solutions before checking the solution at the bottom
Puzzle Set:
Puzzle 1: White to move and do a semi-smothered mate
White to Play
Puzzle 2: Black to move and do a semi-smothered mate
Black to Play
Puzzle 3: White to move and do a semi-smothered mate
White to Play
Puzzle 4: Black to move and do a semi-smothered mate
Black to Play
3️⃣ Solutions
1. Qe8 Bd7/Rd7 Qa8#
2. Ra5 Ba5 b5#
3. Bf3 Bf3 Rh7 Kg4 Rh4#
4. Qc1 Rc1 Nd2 Ka2 Ra8 Qa4 Ra4#
👋 About US
Who’s Writing This?
Hi, Karthik and Kishore here —
Chess players with 20+ years of playing experience
FIDE Peak Rating: 2086 - Karthik, 1815 - Kishore
Focused on building strong fundamentals and thinking habits