Day 294: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 834
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 g8 (h7·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to f7 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g2 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c5 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b4 (a3·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a3 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·69)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g8 (c4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (g1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to h3 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to c5 (c4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to f7 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: fork on f2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to f2 (f6·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to g7 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (h1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to e5 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to c8 (e7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to a6 (a7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to e6 (c5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (d4·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to e5 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: pawn to d8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to e2 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 295 →