Day 324: Setup fork
Target rating: 1020
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. Winning blow: knight to e7 (f5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to e7 (d5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a7 (b5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g8 (g1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to b1 (a2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to g5 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to c5 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to d7 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to g4 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to g8 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (h7·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to f6 (c3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to g6 (f4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to a7 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to g5 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b1 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to b5 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to b7 (b6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a7 (a5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to e5 (c4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: king to c1 (b2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: pawn to d4 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b5 (d3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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