Day 780: Setup fork
Target rating: 1668
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. Mate in 3: pawn to g6 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: bishop to f2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: rook to d1 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: pawn to a4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: rook to f1 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: rook to b5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to a7 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to f8 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e6 (e4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: queen to a8 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: knight to d6 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (h4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: rook to c8 (c7·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c1·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to f5 (g3·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to c5 (d3·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (c1·37)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to e3 (c1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to c1 (f1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to f8 (a3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to g4 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (e4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (e3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 781 →