Day 416: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 1136
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 g6 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to b3 (a2·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c3 (d2·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to b8 (g8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to e3 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: pawn to c4 (b3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to h5 (g3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (g1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (b5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to b2 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: bishop to h7 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to h3 (e6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to h3 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to e4 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: knight to e7 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a5 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: rook to g5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f7 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: bishop to g6 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d5 (a5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: rook to b7 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to f6 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: rook to c7 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to f5 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 417 →