Day 206: Queen fork
Target rating: 864
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 e2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (a1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d5 (c3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a4 (c3·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (c4·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (c3·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to h1 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d5 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: king to h2 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (b2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (d1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (h1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (c4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to f3 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to h3 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (d5·34)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: pawn to b3 (a2·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to b4 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e5 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to f2 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Fork: knight to e2 (c3·5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to e3 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (a2·29)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h7 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 207 →