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Day 701: 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. Winning blow: queen to f7 (g6·4)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (b2·10)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to f8 (f2·3)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to f8 (f3·6)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to e6 (d6)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to h6 (h5·2)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to b7 (h1·8)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d5 (d1·4)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (g4·2)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to e3 (e1)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: queen to f4 (h4)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to e7 (e2·5)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to b7 (b6·6)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to d5 (h1·6)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to c6 (b4·10)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to g6 (g5)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to a6 (c6·3)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (c6·4)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (g6·3)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: rook to d5 (g5)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to g6 (e8)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to g8 (g1)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: knight to b5 (c3·2)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: rook to g8 (g4·2)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to b6 (b2·3)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 3: knight to e6 (g5·5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 1: knight to g3 (e4·2)Shuffle Rating 1696Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
28. Deflection: pawn to d7Shuffle Rating 1807Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Fork: queen to f4 (d4)Shuffle Rating 1696Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: knight to f7 (g5·10)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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