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Day 692: 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: knight to f6 (d5·13)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to a7 (f2·2)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to e8 (e6·3)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f1·12)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e7 (h4)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e3·8)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f5·2)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to e6 (g7·11)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to h6 (f4·3)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to d6 (f8·5)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: queen to h3 (d7)Shuffle Rating 1513Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to f5 (d7·2)Shuffle Rating 1465Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to h7 (h6)Shuffle Rating 1459Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to b2 (a2)Shuffle Rating 1536Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to d6 (c5·4)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b6 (b2·2)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: knight to f5 (e7·2)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: bishop to c5 (a3)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Rescue the bishop to g4Shuffle Rating 1509Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Fork: queen to c1Shuffle Rating 1590Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Fork: queen to f3 (h5)Shuffle Rating 1590Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: pawn to f5 (g4·13)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to e6 (e5·2)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f3 (f1·2)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to e7 (a3·3)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: bishop to e7 (f6·4)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 3: queen to e5 (c3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: queen to c7 (c4·3)Shuffle Rating 1790Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: king to c4 (b5)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: bishop to e1 (d2·2)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 693 →