Day 236: Setup fork
Target rating: 912
Lesson of the day
A setup fork is a double attack that exists only because of the unusual starting squares — in classical chess these targets never stand side by side. Look for pairs of undefended pieces on your opponent's back rank and for squares from which a knight or pawn hits both at once. Such forks usually appear within the first moves, before the pieces disperse. In every new position, note right away which starting pieces are defended by no one.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b4 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (d4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (f1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a3 (c2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to c1 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g2 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a5 (b3·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g4 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (b3·26)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g4 (d1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to a8 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (d4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (g5·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to h6 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (d5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: queen to g5 (e7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: pawn to g4 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: knight to e3 (c2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to b6 (a5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: pawn to c6 (d5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e1 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Fork: queen to e1 (e4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: king to f3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to d8 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 237 →