Day 924: Setup fork
Target rating: 1803
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. Winning blow: rook to e5 (d5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to b6 (b2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: king to c2 (c1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to f6 (f3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to a8 (a3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to a6 (a5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to e4 (e1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (c2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to b5 (c4·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to g4 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (e3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: rook to f7 (f1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (e5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: rook to e6 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to d1 (f1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to d6 (d2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (a1·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to a6 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to e5 (e1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to f5 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to g1 (f1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to b5 (a4·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to e8 (b5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: king to d2 (c2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 925 →