Day 533: Setup fork
Target rating: 1291
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: queen to c5 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to c6 (c2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c7 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to f8 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to d6 (d5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g6 (f4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to g6 (b1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to e6 (d4·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (b2·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to b7 (c7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to c6 (e5·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (f4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f7 (f1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (e4·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to h7 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to f6 (b2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (f7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Skewer: bishop to g7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to d5 (c6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to b7 (a8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: knight to c6 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (f7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d5 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to c4 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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