Day 464: Queen fork
Target rating: 1196
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. Winning blow: queen to c7 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to d6 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to f7 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f3 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to b5 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to f5 (f1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to d7 (g4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b2 (b1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to f6 (h4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to b5 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (g4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to g7 (h7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to f6 (d5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to c5 (a7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to e3 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to g2 (g1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c3 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to b3 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (f4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to e7 (e1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (e3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: king to c4 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to e2 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: pawn to a8 (a7·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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