Day 409: Setup fork
Target rating: 1124
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. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b4 (d3·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e7 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (g2·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to f6 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to e6 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to d1 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to e8 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to b7 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: king to g3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to d7 (c5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: knight to c7 (b5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to f7 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to f5 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to f4 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to b4 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to f6 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (d4·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f3 (e2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to d5 (e3·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to e6 (a2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to f8 (f1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to c5 (d3·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to c8 (d6·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to f3 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (d4·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 410 →