Day 660: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 1446
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. Mate in 2: rook to g6 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 2: queen to e6 (g4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (c4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (d8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 2: knight to b6 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to c8 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (f4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: bishop to f6 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to g3 (c7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: knight to e7 (f5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: knight to c6 (d4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to h6 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to c6 (a8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Trap the bishop on e8Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to g5 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Trap the pawn on c4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: rook to h8 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Fork: knight to e2 (d4·7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Trap the knight on b1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to b8 (a7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Fork: queen to c4 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (g6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Fork: queen to e5 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 661 →