Day 173: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 827
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: queen to a2 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h2 (h1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (a2·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (a7·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (h3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·50)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f2 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h4 (h1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (g7·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (d4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to g3 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (h6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: queen to b2 (d4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 1: knight to g3 (f5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to a1 (b2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b8 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to f3 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to e1 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g4 (e3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·103)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to f7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to b4 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 174 →