Day 804: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 1703
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 h8 (h4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: queen to b7 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: knight to e7 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: rook to f7 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (h6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (g7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to b8 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: bishop to e1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (b8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: knight to e6 (c7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: knight to h6 (f5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: bishop to h7 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: rook to a7 (a8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: bishop to b5 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: knight to e7 (f5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: king to f3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (e7·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Deflection: queen to g3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Fork: queen to c4 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Fork: queen to b3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Fork: knight to d7 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to c6 (a6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: knight to b6 (a4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 805 →