Day 302: Setup fork
Target rating: 985
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 d3 (c2·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g7 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to a5 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·46)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h3 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (c3·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f4 (f1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a4 (c3·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a7 (b5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to h4 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (a8·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to c7 (c8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (h8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to a6 (b7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b4 (b1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: pawn to b6 (c5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to c4 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (e5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g7 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (d4·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to f4 (g3·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to f5 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 303 →