Day 334: Queen fork
Target rating: 1036
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. Winning blow: knight to f3 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to h6 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to f5 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to f3 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f3 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to d3 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to e1 (a1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to g5 (g8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to e3 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b2 (b1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d5 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a7 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to e5 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e3 (e1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Deflection: bishop to g2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (c1·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (f4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to g4 (e2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: king to f2 (f1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to f8 (f1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c1 (a1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: king to c2 (d1·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (g4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 335 →