Day 352: Setup fork
Target rating: 1049
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: rook to d6 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (d2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g5 (f3·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to c6 (e5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (f3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to d6 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to f7 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (a1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (d6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b7 (a6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h6 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (h5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to b3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (e1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: knight to c7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Fork: queen to b4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: pawn to h7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Double attack: knight to f4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to a6 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (e4·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 353 →