Open in the app

Day 804: 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 h8 (h4·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: queen to b7 (f3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: knight to e7 (c8)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: rook to f7 (e7)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (h6·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (g7·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to b8 (a8)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: bishop to e1Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (b8·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: knight to e6 (c7·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: knight to h6 (f5·6)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: bishop to h7 (e4)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: rook to a7 (a8·2)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: bishop to b5 (c4)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: knight to e7 (f5·6)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: king to f3Shuffle Rating 1813Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (e7·6)Shuffle Rating 1814Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Deflection: queen to g3Shuffle Rating 1813Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Fork: queen to c4 (g4)Shuffle Rating 1813Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Fork: queen to b3Shuffle Rating 1813Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Fork: knight to d7 (b6)Shuffle Rating 1813Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to c6 (a6·5)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (h5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: knight to b6 (a4·6)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (e2·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: bishop to b6 (d4·6)Shuffle Rating 1930Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Deflection: pawn to h7Shuffle Rating 1963Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Fork: knight to a2Shuffle Rating 2032Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (b5)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: queen to f8 (f4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 805 →