Day 741: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 1596
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: queen to f4 (e5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to f6 (h8·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (g7·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to f5 (h6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to c6 (e5·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (f4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: rook to h8 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: bishop to b3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to d7 (c7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to a6 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: knight to e7 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: queen to h4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: rook to d4 (e4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: bishop to f4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: queen to a6 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (e7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (c8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Fork: rook to e5 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: queen to b4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: king to g1 (h2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: pawn to h8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 742 →