Day 281: Setup fork
Target rating: 968
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: pawn to h3 (g2·44)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (h2·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (b1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g8 (c4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d5 (c3·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c5 (d3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (d4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (d1·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b4 (a3·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: pawn to b3 (c2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h6 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (h7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (a8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Win the hanging bishop on e4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: knight to f3 (d4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: pawn to b7 (b6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to c3 (b5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to f7 (h6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to h1 (g1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to h1 (g1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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