Day 165: Pawn fork
Target rating: 814
Lesson of the day
A pawn fork is a single pawn step that attacks two pieces at once. Since the pawn is the cheapest unit on the board, the trade is always a bargain — the opponent saves only one of the two targets. The pattern: two enemy pieces on the same rank, one file apart, with a square for your pawn between them. Before parking your pieces near enemy pawns, always ask whether one little push forks them both.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h4 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h3 (g2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g2 (h1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (e3·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to d1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f5 (e3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h4 (h1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (c4·29)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (f4·36)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to d7 (e6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to b7 (c6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d6 (e5·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to c1 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to h4 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (b7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 1: queen to f3 (h5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a7 (f2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to c3 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to g5 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to f2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 166 →