Day 337: Bishop fork
Target rating: 1041
Lesson of the day
A bishop fork happens when the bishop lands where two diagonals cross and attacks a target on each of them. Both victims must stand on the bishop's color — that is the first thing to verify. Scan for loose enemy pieces that share the color of squares with their own king or queen. A common sin is placing your own pieces on squares of one color and handing your opponent exactly this geometry.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h3 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to h1 (g1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to b3 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to b1 (c1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to c1 (a1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to a5 (a6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to b5 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to h5 (g7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to a3 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: bishop to c4 (d5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: bishop to e7 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e7 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b3 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to e5 (f3·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: king to d2 (c1·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: pawn to c3 (c2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: king to b2 (c1·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e6 (g4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to b5 (a6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (d5·35)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d5 (c3·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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