Day 265: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 942
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 e5 (d4·78)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (b4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h1 (g3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e3 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to c4 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·77)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·79)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g4 (f3·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·80)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to f4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to a2 (a4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to g5 (c1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to h5 (h4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to c6 (d5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: bishop to d5 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: rook to d1 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (g4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b4 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c6 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: pawn to c7 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to c5 (e6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c3 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: king to b1 (a2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to d6 (e5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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