Day 588: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 1213
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: bishop to c5 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to b5 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to e7 (g7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (f3·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to f6 (d5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to b2 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to d1 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to b7 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to d2 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to b5 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: rook to g8 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c8 (c6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (d6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: knight to d7 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to a5 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (c4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b6 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to c6 (d6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to e7 (e3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (a5·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c5 (e3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to b6 (b4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to d7 (f6·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 589 →