Open in the app

Day 588: 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: bishop to c5 (b6)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to b5 (b3)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to e7 (g7·2)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (f3·16)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to f6 (d5·7)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to b2 (c2)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to d1 (f3)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to b7 (c7)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to d2 (e1·3)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to b5 (b4)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (d6)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: rook to g8 (g6)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c8 (c6·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (d6·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: knight to d7 (b6)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to a5 (b3·2)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (c4·4)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b6 (c5)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to c6 (d6·2)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to e7 (e3·4)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e5·4)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (a5·25)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c5 (e3·3)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to b6 (b4·2)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to d7 (f6·8)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Discovered attack: knight to h6 (f5)Shuffle Rating 1443Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 2: queen to c8 (c4·7)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 1: rook to d8 (e8)Shuffle Rating 1536Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: knight to c6 (e5·17)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: queen to d5 (b7)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 589 →