Day 438: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 1171
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: knight to d6 (b5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to a2 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to c5 (d3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to h2 (g1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to c7 (b5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to e1 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to c7 (b5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: king to e2 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to d6 (b5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: king to b2 (a2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to d6 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to h5 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (g7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: knight to e6 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (d2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: pawn to b5 (a4·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (c4·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: knight to e6 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (f5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·60)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to f8 (c8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to f2 (g1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to b1 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 439 →