Day 609: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 1230
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: queen to a5 (a4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to c6 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to a7 (a5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to h7 (g7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to e7 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to g8 (h8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to e6 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to f5 (f6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to f4 (f1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (d4·27)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: rook to h7 (h2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to b7 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: rook to a8 (a6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to b4 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e7 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to h6 (e3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to g8 (g5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c8 (c2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to b7 (f7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (f6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to c5 (a6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to d6 (a3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to b7 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 610 →