Day 470: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 1206
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: rook to f7 (g7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to a6 (b4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to b7 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to c8 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to e8 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to h7 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to b7 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to e7 (e6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to f7 (c7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to b6 (d5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: knight to d5 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: knight to b6 (a4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to g5 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to h5 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to e3 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to b8 (b1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to a1 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to d5 (f4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d7 (d6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: king to e2 (d1·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to a7 (a1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to f6 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (f4·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 471 →