Day 538: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 1299
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: king to f1 (e1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to a2 (b1·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: king to a2 (b1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to c2 (d1·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: king to b1 (c1·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to e1 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to d3 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: king to b1 (c1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to b1 (c1·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to b3 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (f3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: queen to g5 (c5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to f3 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: queen to h5 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Win the hanging knight on e4 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to e6 (f8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Win the hanging knight on g4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Fork: bishop to e2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Skewer: bishop to d1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Deflection: bishop to d4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to f3 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: knight to h6 (g4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 539 →