Day 364: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 918
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 h8 (c3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·99)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (c3·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b2 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (g3·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h1 (g1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d4 (d1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (b3·39)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a3 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g1 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: rook to f6 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: bishop to d5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to h8 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a6 (b7·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to d4 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: pawn to g5 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to d1 (c1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (f5·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to d1 (a1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to d2 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (h1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to d5 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 365 →