Smothered Mate
The king is trapped by its own pieces, and a knight gives checkmate.
What to look for
Look for knight checks near the king and blocked escape squares.
Recognize the mechanism
A knight can check without an open file or diagonal. Inspect the king’s neighboring squares and identify its own pieces occupying them. Then check whether the knight can be captured; blocking a knight check is not an answer.
Common practical mistake
Do not confuse an ordinary knight mate with a smothered net. The defender’s own army is the central confinement clue, and a familiar queen sacrifice is not required in every example.
Training goal
Train your eye to notice when the king is boxed in by its own army.