Day 880: Queen fork
Target rating: 1868
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 f8 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: queen to g6 (b1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (e6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to b8 (b2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to d8 (d7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to a3 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to c8 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (f8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to c5 (e7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: knight to a7 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to h6 (g6·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to c7 (d6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to c6 (b6·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to f7 (b3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to d5 (e5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Pin: queen to f7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (f5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to e6 (d6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (d4·27)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to c4 (b3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to h8 (e8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to e8 (c6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to b7 (b4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to g5 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to c5 (e4·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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