Day 659: Queen fork
Target rating: 1444
Lesson of the day
The queen strikes along files, ranks and diagonals, so she forks more often than any other piece. Look for a square where the queen attacks two undefended targets at once — most often a check combined with a loose piece. Diagonal blows are especially venomous: a slanting check that also eyes a rook in the corner is the classic of the genre. Remember that both targets must be unprotected, or your «fork» is just a shot into the air.
Warm-up
1. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 2: queen to c8 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to b6 (d5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (h8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 2: queen to d7 (h3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to d8 (e6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a5 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to g3 (e1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g5 (e3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to h2 (h6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to c3 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: queen to g5 (e7·3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: rook to c3 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to d7 (h3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Pin: knight to h6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to h3 (e6·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to e5 (b2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Fork: rook to f2 (h2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: bishop to e6 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 660 →