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Day 294: 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.

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (h7·12)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to f7 (h6)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (e5·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g2 (f2·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c5 (c3·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b4 (a3·17)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a3 (c1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·69)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g8 (c4·4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (g1·11)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: queen to h3 (h8)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to c5 (c4·2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to f7 (a7)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: fork on f2Shuffle Rating 1063Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to f2 (f6·2)Shuffle Rating 1065Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to g7 (e5)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (h1·10)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to e5 (d3·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to c8 (e7·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to a6 (a7·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to e6 (c5·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (d4·11)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to e5 (f3·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: pawn to d8Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to e2 (g4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Fork: knight to e2 (c3·6)Shuffle Rating 1059Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d2 (d1·3)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (c4·4)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (g2·10)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (g1·7)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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