Day 968: Supported queen mate
Target rating: 2040
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. Chess960 tactic on a7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Chess960 tactic on g1 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Chess960 tactic on f4 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Chess960 tactic on a7 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Chess960 tactic on d6 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Chess960 tactic on e6 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to f7 (e7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Chess960 tactic on e7 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Chess960 tactic on d7 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Chess960 tactic on e7 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: rook to h7 (h1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (c3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: knight to c6 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: knight to g3 (f5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Chess960 tactic on c6 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Chess960 tactic on d1 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g4 (e2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Chess960 tactic on b7 (c6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Chess960 tactic on e7 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Chess960 tactic on e7 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Fork: queen to h1 (h2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Win the hanging king on g2 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to g2 (g1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Rescue the king to h1 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 969 →