Day 876: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 1858
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: knight to h5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: knight to c6 (a5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to b4 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to d8 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: knight to g8 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: bishop to e4 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c8 (a6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: rook to e6 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (f8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: pin on h6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: rook to h8 (h1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to g7 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (d3·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: rook to g6 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: pin on b3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to d6 (e4·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to g5 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to c8 (c4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to b5 (c3·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to b5 (e2·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to b6 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to c5 (c1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (c5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: rook to b5 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 877 →