Day 857: Queen fork
Target rating: 1811
Lesson of the day
The queen strikes along files, ranks and diagonals, so she forks more often than any other piece. Look for a square where the queen attacks two undefended targets at once — most often a check combined with a loose piece. Diagonal blows are especially venomous: a slanting check that also eyes a rook in the corner is the classic of the genre. Remember that both targets must be unprotected, or your «fork» is just a shot into the air.
Warm-up
1. Mate in 3: rook to g2 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g5 (e3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: pawn to g7 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: rook to b6 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f7 (f6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a5 (c3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: pawn to f6 (g5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to e5 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (f4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to e8 (g6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to d5 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to c6 (h1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to e7 (e3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to f7 (f3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to b6 (b7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to a8 (f8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: pawn to b6 (c5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (c4·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to f7 (h7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to d7 (e8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to f4 (e3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to d4 (d1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to a8 (a1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to b5 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 858 →