Bible Chess

Daniel Chess Puzzles: Smothered mates

World 9 of 10 · 39 puzzles · Smothered mates

Smothered mates: a Scout (knight) checkmates a king boxed in by its own pieces, with nowhere to go, like a den with its mouth shut.

Daniel, a world of Bible Chess
The story of Daniel told with chess pieces, picture 1 of 3
A new law forbids prayer. Daniel prays anyway, three times a day.
The story of Daniel told with chess pieces, picture 2 of 3
His enemies have him thrown into the lions’ den.
The story of Daniel told with chess pieces, picture 3 of 3
God shuts the lions’ mouths. Now trap a king who has nowhere to go.

Here are 6 of the 39 puzzles from this world, from first to last. Your pieces are gold and you move first; your side is at the bottom of the board. Missing squares are water: no piece can stand on them, the Tower, Prophet and Judge can’t cross them, and only the Scout jumps over.

Level 1 · Mate in 2

King Darius sets Daniel over his kingdom.

Gold: Scout h6, Judge d5, King g1. Stone: Tower f8, King h8, Prophet g7, Shepherd h7.

Show the solution
  1. Judge d5 to g8. Stone answers: Tower f8 to g8, taking the Judge.
  2. Scout h6 to f7. Checkmate!
…and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give account to them, and that the king should suffer no loss.
Daniel 6:2 · WEB

Level 9 · Mate in 2

The king signs it. The law cannot change.

Gold: King g8, Prophet d4, Scout e4, Judge f2. Stone: Scout f3, Shepherd g2, Shepherd h2, Tower e1, King h1.

Show the solution
  1. Judge f2 to g1. Stone answers: Tower e1 to g1, taking the Judge.
  2. Scout e4 to f2. Checkmate!
Therefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
Daniel 6:9 · WEB

Level 16 · Mate in 2

They run to the king.

Gold: Scout h6, Judge b3, King f1. Stone: Tower f8, King h8, Prophet g7, Shepherd h7, Shepherd f5.

Show the solution
  1. Judge b3 to g8. Stone answers: Tower f8 to g8, taking the Judge.
  2. Scout h6 to f7. Checkmate!
Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree: “Haven’t you signed a decree that every man who makes a petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered, “This thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn’t alter.”
Daniel 6:12 · WEB

Level 24 · Mate in 3

Surrounded, but not alone.

Gold: King h7, Judge e3, Scout f2. Stone: Prophet g2, Shepherd h2, Tower f1, King g1.

Show the solution
  1. Scout f2 to h3. Stone answers: King g1 to h1.
  2. Judge e3 to g1. Stone answers: Tower f1 to g1, taking the Judge.
  3. Scout h3 to f2. Checkmate!
Yahweh’s angel encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Psalm 34:7 · WEB

Level 31 · Mate in 3

At first light, the king hurries to the den.

Gold: Scout f7, Judge e6, King g1. Stone: Tower f8, King g8, Prophet g7, Shepherd h7.

Show the solution
  1. Scout f7 to h6. Stone answers: King g8 to h8.
  2. Judge e6 to g8. Stone answers: Tower f8 to g8, taking the Judge.
  3. Scout h6 to f7. Checkmate!
Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste to the den of lions.
Daniel 6:19 · WEB

Level 39 · Mate in 3

Daniel prospers all his days.

Gold: Tower f8, King g8, Scout e4, Judge f4. Stone: Judge d4, Shepherd g2, Shepherd h2, Tower e1, King h1.

Show the solution
  1. Judge f4 to f1. Stone answers: Tower e1 to f1, taking the Judge.
  2. Tower f8 to f1, taking the Tower. Stone answers: Judge d4 to g1.
  3. Scout e4 to f2. Checkmate!
So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Daniel 6:28 · WEB

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