Day 457: Setup fork
Target rating: 1185
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: king to d3 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to b8 (b7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: king to g1 (f1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to h8 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: king to a2 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: king to b4 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: king to a2 (b1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (h7·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to f3 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f2 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to g2 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c3 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a2 (b1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to e5 (a1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (h1·32)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: bishop to c6 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: king to e1 (d1·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to d8 (a8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e8 (h5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to d4 (c4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to f2 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to a6 (c5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to e5 (h2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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