Day 194: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 856
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: pawn to d4 (c3·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (h1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c3 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (d3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·52)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (h1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: king to g1 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (b1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (e4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to g8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to h2 (h3·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f3 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to f4 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b4 (b1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to d4 (c3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·68)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (e1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to d5 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d4 (e2·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Fork: knight to e8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to b2 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 195 →