Day 826: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 1608
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 3: queen to e5 (d4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: rook to f7 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: rook to d1 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: rook to d4 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: bishop to h4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: king to d2 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to d8 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: bishop to e4 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to d7 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: pawn to g6 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: queen to f5 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (b5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b3 (d1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: rook to g7 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: bishop to a4 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: queen to f8 (e7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: rook to b7 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (d5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: rook to g8 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (e7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: bishop to f3 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: pawn to e3 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: queen to b4 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 827 →