Day 386: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 1104
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. Winning blow: queen to e7 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (d4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to c5 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to d7 (e5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (g7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to g7 (b7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to f1 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to f6 (h5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: discovered attack on f3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (e1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to g4 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: rook to e7 (c7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a3 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b1 (a1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to h7 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to c4 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f3 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to e7 (g6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h3 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to a3 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to b1 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 387 →