Day 156: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 800
Lesson of the day
The supported queen mate is the most common pattern of all: the queen lands next to the king and mates because a friendly piece or pawn protects her. The king is helpless — capturing is impossible, and the queen covers every neighboring square herself. Hunt for a protected square beside the enemy king: a knight, bishop or pawn eyeing it turns her invasion into mate. Verify one thing — that the square really is defended, or the king eats her.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g1 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c5 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c7 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d2 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e3 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d6 (c5·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c2 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h4 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to g8 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: discovered attack on f6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to g5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to h2 (h4·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (c6·7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (h5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d8 (a5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: pawn to g3 (h2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g5 (f3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d3 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a5 (b4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (f4·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 157 →