Day 872: Setup fork
Target rating: 1848
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 d5 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: king to g2 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: rook to e5 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to h7 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to a5 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (a4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to d5 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: pawn to b6 (a5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: rook to a1 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (c4·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: queen to c7 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to b4 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (b3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: queen to d8 (c8·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to g6 (g4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to h7 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to c3 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to g7 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to f5 (f4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to e3 (e2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to e1 (f1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: rook to e7 (e5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to e7 (e1·26)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: knight to f6 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 873 →