Day 481: Setup fork
Target rating: 1224
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: bishop to d5 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c8 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to g5 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to c7 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to c5 (c1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to g7 (h6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to e1 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to c6 (e8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to b5 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to d5 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: knight to e6 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (e1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to h8 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Discovered attack: bishop to c5 (e7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (d4·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d3 (f1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b7 (b6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: king to c2 (c1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Pin: knight to g3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (a1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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