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Day 281: Setup fork

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. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·44)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (h2·21)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (b1·9)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g8 (c4·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d5 (c3·13)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c5 (d3·5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (d4·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (d1·19)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b4 (a3·15)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: pawn to b3 (c2·4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h6 (g7)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (g5·2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (h8)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (h7·5)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (a8·3)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Win the hanging bishop on e4Shuffle Rating 1033Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: knight to f3 (d4)Shuffle Rating 1048Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: pawn to b7 (b6·3)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to c3 (b5·3)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to f7 (h6·3)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to h1 (g1·4)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to h1 (g1·5)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b1·5)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d3·3)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 2: pawn to g5 (g6)Shuffle Rating 1198Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h3 (g2·8)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: rook to c6 (f6·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (g6)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: rook to b4 (g4)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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