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Day 780: 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. Mate in 3: pawn to g6 (g5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: bishop to f2Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: rook to d1 (e1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: pawn to a4Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: rook to f1 (a1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: rook to b5Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to a7 (d4·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to f8 (a3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e6 (e4·5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: queen to a8 (c6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: knight to d6 (e4·2)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (h4·2)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f5·2)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (e6)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: rook to c8 (c7·7)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c1·22)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to f5 (g3·18)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to c5 (d3·16)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (c1·37)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to e3 (c1·6)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to c1 (f1·5)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to f8 (a3·3)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to g4 (g1)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (e4·7)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (e3·4)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Pin: rook to d5 (e5)Shuffle Rating 1898Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 2: queen to c6 (a6·6)Shuffle Rating 1945Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: queen to d6 (f8·6)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 3: bishop to g5 (f4)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: queen to b6 (d4·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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