Day 313: Queen fork
Target rating: 1003
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: bishop to h8 (g7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d7 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (a1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (e3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (b3·35)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (d4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (a7·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (e3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to f5 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to b3 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c3 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to d3 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c6 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to c6 (c4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to h7 (h3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c8 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: knight to e6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: rook to a8 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (f1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g4 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to b6 (e3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to c8 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: knight to c6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 1: queen to f3 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 314 →