Day 215: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 878
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: bishop to b4 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·34)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to e5 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (f3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·59)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f3 (g2·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h5 (h1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (d3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e4 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to d6 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: queen to c7 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (h3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: rook to a8Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to h8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to g6 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to e5 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: knight to d2 (c4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to b4 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to e3 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Fork: knight to c5 (d7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d3 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (f1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to g3 (h2·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to d4 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to e3 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 216 →