Day 244: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 920
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 f1 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h3 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a5 (b4·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f4 (d3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f2 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to c4 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a3 (b2·27)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c7 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a6 (b5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: queen to f7 (h5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to g4 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: knight to f3 (g5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to f2 (h4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f2 (e1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: pawn to h7 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to e8 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to f6 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: pawn to h6 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: king to b2 (b1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to c5 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to e1 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to b6 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: king to d2 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 245 →