Day 506: Setup fork
Target rating: 1248
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 b6 (a4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (h1·28)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·57)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to b7 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to d4 (e3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to c3 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to e4 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h8 (h1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c4 (e3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b6 (a4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a3 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e6 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to c5 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c4 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d7 (d1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d6 (b4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (e7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to e6 (d5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to d6 (e6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (g2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f6 (d4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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