Day 209: Pawn fork
Target rating: 868
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: pawn to c5 (b4·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (b3·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d4 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b1 (a1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: king to f2 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (b3·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c3 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (b1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (h2·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: pawn to b7 (b6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (d5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to f7 (f6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to g4 (g3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (g4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to e2 (g3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (b3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d3 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to e7 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h3 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g1 (f1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to b3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to g7 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to e3 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 1: queen to d7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 210 →