Day 560: Setup fork
Target rating: 1168
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: rook to f2 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to e1 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: king to d1 (e1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to f2 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: king to f2 (g1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e3 (g1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: king to b2 (c1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: king to f2 (f1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to g1 (h2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to g2 (g1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (d4·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to a6 (a4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to d6 (c4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to d6 (b5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to c8 (c1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to d2 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to g3 (e1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to g8 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to d4 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: rook to g5 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to b7 (f3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: rook to a8 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h4 (g4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to h5 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e1 (f1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 561 →