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Day 876: 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 h5Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: knight to c6 (a5·3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to b4 (b6)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to d8 (d1·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: knight to g8 (f6)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: bishop to e4 (g2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c8 (a6·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (h6)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: rook to e6 (e1·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (f8·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 3: pin on h6Shuffle Rating 1856Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: rook to h8 (h1·6)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to g7 (c3·2)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (d3·12)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: rook to g6 (g1·3)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: pin on b3Shuffle Rating 1938Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to d6 (e4·22)Shuffle Rating 1930Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to g5 (d2·3)Shuffle Rating 1930Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to c8 (c4·2)Shuffle Rating 1930Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to b5 (c3·24)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to b5 (e2·8)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to b6 (e3·2)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to c5 (c1·15)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (c5·11)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: rook to b5 (b1·2)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: queen to d3 (a6·2)Shuffle Rating 2010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Chess960 tactic on c8 (c3)Shuffle Rating 2120Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Rescue the queen to e4Shuffle Rating 2176Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Fork: bishop to c5 (e7·2)Shuffle Rating 1991Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (e2·3)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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