Day 566: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 1328
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: bishop to e5 (h2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (h3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to f6 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to a8 (a6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to e6 (g5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d1·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: pawn to d7 (c6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to f8 (f2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to c6 (e5·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to g8 (h7·3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: rook to h3 (h5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (e4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to c8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f5 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Castling-960 to the rescue on a8 (b8·4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Castling-960 to the rescue on h1 (f1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Castling-960 to the rescue on h1 (f1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Castling-960 to the rescue on h1 (g1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Castling-960 to the rescue on h1 (g1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: rook to d7 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Castling-960 to the rescue on a1 (c1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to f7 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Castling-960 to the rescue on a1 (c1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (h4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 567 →