Day 265: Supported queen mate

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 Uncastled king Hanging piece

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·78)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

2. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (b4·4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h1 (g3·3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e3 (f2·3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

5. Winning blow: rook to c4 (c1·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·77)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·79)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g4 (f3·21)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·80)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (d4·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: queen to f4Shuffle Rating 1041 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

12. Mate in 2: queen to a2 (a4)Shuffle Rating 1048 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

13. Winning blow: queen to g5 (c1·6)Shuffle Rating 1060 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

14. Winning blow: queen to h5 (h4·3)Shuffle Rating 1060 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

15. Winning blow: queen to c6 (d5·3)Shuffle Rating 1060 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

16. Fork: bishop to d5 (e4)Shuffle Rating 960 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

17. Fork: rook to d1 (f1)Shuffle Rating 1044 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

18. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (g4·3)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b4 (b3)Shuffle Rating 970 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

20. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c6 (c1·5)Shuffle Rating 1010 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

21. Winning blow: pawn to c7 (d6)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

22. Winning blow: knight to c5 (e6·3)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c3 (f6)Shuffle Rating 970 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

24. Attack on the uncastled king: king to b1 (a2·2)Shuffle Rating 970 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

25. Winning blow: bishop to d6 (e5·3)Shuffle Rating 1010 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (d2·5)Shuffle Rating 1060 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

27. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (f2·6)Shuffle Rating 1110 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

28. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g6·2)Shuffle Rating 1200 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c8 (c1·16)Shuffle Rating 1090 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

30. Winning blow: queen to g4 (d1)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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