Day 590: Setup fork
Target rating: 1366
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 b8 (b3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (e4·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (a5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (c3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to c7 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to d6 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to c6 (b4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to b7 (c6·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to a8 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to b4 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to e4 (g3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to e6 (c5·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (f3·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to h1 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to c3 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b6 (c5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to f3 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 1: rook to g3 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to b8 (a7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (a1·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to g5 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: knight to d8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to e4 (g5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 591 →