Day 86: Bishop fork
Target rating: 720
Lesson of the day
A bishop fork happens when the bishop lands where two diagonals cross and attacks a target on each of them. Both victims must stand on the bishop's color — that is the first thing to verify. Scan for loose enemy pieces that share the color of squares with their own king or queen. A common sin is placing your own pieces on squares of one color and handing your opponent exactly this geometry.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f6 (g5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g4 (h3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g4 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (e3·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (a4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (b4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f6 (e5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d5 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f6 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to b5 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d2 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to b2 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (c4·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·32)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (h2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·46)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f3 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (b5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c4 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·40)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 87 →