Day 837: Setup fork
Target rating: 1786
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: bishop to a6 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: bishop to e5 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to d8 (d4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (c8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: bishop to f6 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to f5 (g4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to c8 (b8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (c4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to d8 (c8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: bishop to d4 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: bishop to e5 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: rook to c8 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: rook to c7 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (e7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to f8 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to h7 (f7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to d6 (b4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to d4 (c3·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to f8 (e7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to c8 (b7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: pawn to g5 (h4·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to f4 (g3·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to d8 (c7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to e6 (d4·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 838 →