Day 701: Setup fork
Target rating: 1496
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 f7 (g6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (b2·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to f8 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to f8 (f3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to e6 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to h6 (h5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to b7 (h1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d5 (d1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (g4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to e3 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to f4 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to e7 (e2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to b7 (b6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to d5 (h1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to c6 (b4·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to g6 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to a6 (c6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (c6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (g6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: rook to d5 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to g6 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to g8 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: knight to b5 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: rook to g8 (g4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to b6 (b2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 702 →