Day 433: Pawn fork
Target rating: 1163
Lesson of the day
A pawn fork is a single pawn step that attacks two pieces at once. Since the pawn is the cheapest unit on the board, the trade is always a bargain — the opponent saves only one of the two targets. The pattern: two enemy pieces on the same rank, one file apart, with a square for your pawn between them. Before parking your pieces near enemy pawns, always ask whether one little push forks them both.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: king to d3 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to d3 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: bishop to c2 (b1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to g2 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: king to g3 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: king to e3 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to g2 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to e5 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to b2 (c1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (f3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: pawn to g4 (g3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to c7 (c6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to c7 (c6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to e6 (e5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g7 (g6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: king to c2 (d1·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d3 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f2 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b2 (b1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c3 (h3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d3 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g1 (h1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to a7 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to d5 (b6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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