Day 501: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 1240
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 g7 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c8 (c1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to d6 (f5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (e4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (h5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to f5 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (f4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: knight to f6 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to c8 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to h3 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to g4 (c8·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: queen to e4 (c6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (g5·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: king to g2 (f1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: rook to f1 (f2·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (a1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to e7 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: king to b2 (c1·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: rook to e7 (c7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to g7 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to e7 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to b3 (a3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 502 →