Day 754: Setup fork
Target rating: 1603
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 h5 (g5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to d7 (d6·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: bishop to g5 (e3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to f3 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to d5 (g8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to g8 (g6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: pawn to c7 (d6·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to h8 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to e7 (f5·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to d7 (c5·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: bishop to g6 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to d2 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g5 (e4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (a6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d3 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: pawn to f4 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: rook to c4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: bishop to f4 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (h3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: pawn to f6 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to g6 (h5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: pawn to c6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (c4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: rook to h7 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (a2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 755 →