Day 375: Queen fork
Target rating: 1086
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: pawn to f5 (e4·58)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g4 (f3·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h3 (g2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (a7·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: king to g1 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (b2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h2 (f1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b7 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b4 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to c3 (b2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to c7 (b7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to c8 (d7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e6 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b7 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Deflection: rook to e5Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to d6 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: rook to f1 (d1·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to a8 (a6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to e7 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to d6 (f5·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to a8 (a1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to h6 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 376 →