Day 156: Supported queen mate

Target Rating 800

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.

Types of the daySupported queen mate Hanging piece Uncastled king

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g1 (f1·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c5 (c1·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c7 (h2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d2 (d1)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e3 (f3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

6. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d1·5)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d6 (c5·14)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c2 (c1)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h4 (e1·4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

10. Winning blow: queen to g8 (h7)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: discovered attack on f6Shuffle Rating 899 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

12. Mate in 2: queen to g5Shuffle Rating 900 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

13. Mate in 1: queen to h2 (h4·2)Shuffle Rating 904 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

14. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (c6·7)Shuffle Rating 906 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

15. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (h5·4)Shuffle Rating 907 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d8 (a5·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

17. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (f2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

18. Winning blow: pawn to g3 (h2·3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (f2·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (b2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g5 (f3·6)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d3 (c2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a5 (b4·4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (f4·10)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (e3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: queen to g2 (a8)Shuffle Rating 970 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

27. Winning blow: queen to h6 (g7·2)Shuffle Rating 970 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

28. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c1 (f4)Shuffle Rating 1060 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: rook to e5 (e1)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

30. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h4 (e1·3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!