Day 257: Setup fork
Target rating: 929
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: rook to f4 (f1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (b1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·81)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g4 (e3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to e8 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c2 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·38)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c3 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (h1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (h1·27)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to f5 (e3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (a1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to e8 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to c5 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to e7 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to d7 (f7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to d5 (c7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to e6 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to c6 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to c7 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to h6 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to c7 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to f7 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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