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Day 660: 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. Mate in 2: rook to g6 (g4)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 2: queen to e6 (g4·4)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (c4·4)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (d8·3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (e6)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 2: knight to b6 (d5)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to c8 (f5·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (f4·5)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e7·5)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: bishop to f6 (d4·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: queen to g3 (c7)Shuffle Rating 1442Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: knight to e7 (f5·5)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: knight to c6 (d4·4)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to h6 (g5·2)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to c6 (a8·2)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Trap the bishop on e8Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to g5 (f5·2)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Trap the pawn on c4Shuffle Rating 1522Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: rook to h8 (h1·2)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Fork: knight to e2 (d4·7)Shuffle Rating 1488Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Trap the knight on b1Shuffle Rating 1526Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to b8 (a7·4)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Fork: queen to c4 (c3)Shuffle Rating 1495Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (g6·6)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Fork: queen to e5 (e3)Shuffle Rating 1501Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Skewer: bishop to f4 (e3)Shuffle Rating 1589Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Pin: pawn to d6Shuffle Rating 1703Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: king to d2 (c1·25)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: knight to e6 (c7·6)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 2: rook to e1 (e8·5)Shuffle Rating 1418Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 661 →