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Day 837: 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: bishop to a6 (d3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: bishop to e5 (c3·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to d8 (d4·4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (c8·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: bishop to f6 (c3·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to f5 (g4·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to c8 (b8·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (c4·4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to d8 (c8·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: bishop to d4 (g1·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e6·3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: bishop to e5 (b2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: rook to c8 (c4)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: rook to c7 (c3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (e7·3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to f8 (d6)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to h7 (f7·2)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to d6 (b4·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to d4 (c3·10)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to f8 (e7·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to c8 (b7·3)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: pawn to g5 (h4·12)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to f4 (g3·19)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to d8 (c7·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to e6 (d4·23)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 2: rook to h6 (h1·2)Shuffle Rating 1873Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: pawn to f8 (f7·4)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 2: queen to f3 (d3)Shuffle Rating 2114Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 3: bishop to d5 (c6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: fork on c7Shuffle Rating 1873Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 838 →