Day 166: Queen fork
Target rating: 816
Lesson of the day
The queen strikes along files, ranks and diagonals, so she forks more often than any other piece. Look for a square where the queen attacks two undefended targets at once — most often a check combined with a loose piece. Diagonal blows are especially venomous: a slanting check that also eyes a rook in the corner is the classic of the genre. Remember that both targets must be unprotected, or your «fork» is just a shot into the air.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: knight to h2 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (h1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g1 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (h7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (a2·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (h2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (f3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (d3·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b4 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (f2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d1 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to h8 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (e7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to e5 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b7 (a6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·107)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to f6 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: king to f1 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (d4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 1: rook to h4 (f4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to e6 (h3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 167 →