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Day 900: 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 c6 (a4·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to h7 (e7·2)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to g7 (c3·5)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to d5 (e4·3)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to f6 (f3·5)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to g8 (f8·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (b7·3)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to e6 (f7·3)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (a4·2)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to g8 (h8·5)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: queen to b2 (b3)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to e7 (e3·5)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to a5 (a4·3)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to f8 (c5)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to d7 (c8·3)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: knight to g5 (e4·3)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: queen to c7 (b8·3)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (e4·2)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: rook to d4 (d1·3)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: rook to g7 (h7·4)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (e1·3)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h7 (h4·2)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: bishop to e4 (h1·5)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: queen to d6 (d5·4)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: bishop to e3 (c1·3)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (d3·4)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: king to e2 (e1·21)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Discovered attack: rook to f2Shuffle Rating 2075Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: pawn to g7 (g6·10)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: bishop to g5 (f4·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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