Day 810: Setup fork
Target rating: 1718
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: queen to f6 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: king to h4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (f5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (d4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to g7 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: rook to c7 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: knight to c5 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: rook to c1 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to a6 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: queen to b8 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: knight to c5 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: pawn to g8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: bishop to d6 (a3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: queen to f5 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b2 (d3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to c1 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Pin: king to f3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Win the hanging pawn on e5Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Win the hanging king on h4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: bishop to e5 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: queen to e1 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: rook to g1 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (c4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 811 →