Day 215: Supported queen mate

Target Rating 878

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 Only move Uncastled king

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b4 (d2·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·34)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

3. Winning blow: queen to e5 (c3·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (f3·6)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·59)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f3 (g2·12)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h5 (h1·5)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (d3·4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

9. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e4 (d4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

10. Winning blow: queen to d6 (d1)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 1: queen to c7 (h7)Shuffle Rating 974 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

12. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (h3·4)Shuffle Rating 975 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

13. Mate in 2: rook to a8Shuffle Rating 979 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

14. Mate in 2: queen to h8Shuffle Rating 980 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

15. Mate in 2: queen to g6 (g4)Shuffle Rating 982 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

16. Winning blow: rook to e5 (e1·3)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

17. Fork: knight to d2 (c4)Shuffle Rating 950 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

18. Winning blow: rook to b4 (c4)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

19. Winning blow: queen to e3 (f4)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

20. Fork: knight to c5 (d7)Shuffle Rating 952 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d3 (b4)Shuffle Rating 970 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

22. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (f1·12)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

23. Winning blow: pawn to g3 (h2·8)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

24. Winning blow: rook to d4 (d1·2)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

25. Winning blow: queen to e3 (h3)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·56)Shuffle Rating 1060 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

27. Castling-960 to the rescue on g1 (f1)Shuffle Rating 1150 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

28. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (f2·3)Shuffle Rating 1200 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: knight to f6 (e4·5)Shuffle Rating 1059 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

30. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (e3·22)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!