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Day 855: 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 3: knight to g5 (e4·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: queen to c5 (c4·5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: rook to e1 (h1·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (d5·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (c4·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to d7 (e6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e6 (d7)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g5 (c1·5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to d8 (f6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: queen to d5 (c4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: discovered attack on c8Shuffle Rating 1818Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (b4·2)Shuffle Rating 1820Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: rook to h8 (h5)Shuffle Rating 1820Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: rook to e1 (f1·4)Shuffle Rating 1820Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: king to g4Shuffle Rating 1820Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Deflection: bishop to g6Shuffle Rating 1899Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: knight to f5 (h6)Shuffle Rating 1900Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to d4 (a1·7)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to b5 (e2·7)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c1·27)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to f5 (g7·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to g4 (h3)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to b5 (a4·5)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d3·6)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to c8 (f5·3)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Trap the knight on b7Shuffle Rating 1999Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
27. Skewer: rook to d8 (c8)Shuffle Rating 2085Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Chess960 tactic on b5 (d6)Shuffle Rating 2120Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 3: fork on c2Shuffle Rating 1941Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: queen to f6 (a1·5)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 856 →