Day 967: Setup fork
Target rating: 2037
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 2: double attack on c4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
2. Chess960 tactic on c7 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Chess960 tactic on h8 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Chess960 tactic on a4 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Chess960 tactic on d4 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to b6 (d8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Chess960 tactic on a6 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Chess960 tactic on e8 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Chess960 tactic on g6 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Chess960 tactic on f5 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: queen to c7 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: rook to g7 (g3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to g6 (g3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Chess960 tactic on b6 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Chess960 tactic on c7 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Chess960 tactic on c6 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (d4·27)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Chess960 tactic on e7 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to a6 (f1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Chess960 tactic on f7 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Chess960 tactic on c6 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Chess960 tactic on b3 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g6 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Chess960 tactic on b7 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 968 →