Day 692: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 1496
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: knight to f6 (d5·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to a7 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to e8 (e6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e7 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to e6 (g7·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to h6 (f4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to d6 (f8·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to h3 (d7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to f5 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to h7 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to b2 (a2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to d6 (c5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b6 (b2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: knight to f5 (e7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: bishop to c5 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Rescue the bishop to g4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Fork: queen to c1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Fork: queen to f3 (h5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: pawn to f5 (g4·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to e6 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f3 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to e7 (a3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 693 →