Day 276: Queen fork
Target rating: 960
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. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f4 (d3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to g3 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (c4·26)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to a4 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a8 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to d1 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: king to b2 (c1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to f4 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b5 (e2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f1 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d5 (g2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to c4 (g8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g7 (f6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to h6 (g6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to d4 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to d6 (c6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to h5 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to c5 (c1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f2 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to e6 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·114)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to b8 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to f6 (d5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 277 →