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Day 386: 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. Winning blow: queen to e7 (e6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (d4·6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to c5 (d3·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d1·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to d7 (e5·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (g7·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to g7 (b7·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to f1 (d3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to f6 (h5·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: discovered attack on f3Shuffle Rating 1187Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (h4)Shuffle Rating 1190Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (e1·8)Shuffle Rating 1190Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to g4 (a4)Shuffle Rating 1193Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: rook to e7 (c7·2)Shuffle Rating 1196Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a3 (b5·2)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b1 (a1·7)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to h7 (e7)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·6)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to c4 (b5)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f3 (g5·2)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to e7 (g6·5)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h3 (h6)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to a3 (c5)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to b1 (b3)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 1: rook to e4 (c4)Shuffle Rating 1270Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f1·6)Shuffle Rating 1271Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Castling-960 to the rescue on a1 (d1·14)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: knight to h6 (f5)Shuffle Rating 1220Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: knight to e6 (f4·5)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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