Day 69: Queen fork
Target rating: 692
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. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b6 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to b5 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a7 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (b3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to e4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a5 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (a2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f6 (a1·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to h1 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to f6 (d5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to c8 (d6·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to a1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g5 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c4 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (d3·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·29)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 70 →