Day 322: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 867
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 f2 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·79)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to b4 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a5 (b4·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a5 (b3·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (f4·30)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (b2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b5 (b1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e5 (a1·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·92)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: rook to d8 (d1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to d6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to f5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to b7 (a6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: pawn to h3 (h2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to b3 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to c5 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to a6 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to c1 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to f4 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to d4 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to b5 (a6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 323 →