Day 16: Royal fork
Target rating: 624
Lesson of the day
A royal fork is a fork with check — one of the two targets is the king itself. The check must be answered first, so nobody is left to rescue the second piece. Look for squares where your piece gives check and simultaneously attacks an undefended queen or rook. It is the most reliable fork of all, because your opponent literally has no choice.
Warm-up
1. Mate in 1: knight to e7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (b2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 1: bishop to d6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (d5·3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 1: rook to d8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 1: queen to h5 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Back-rank mate in 2 on a1 (a3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Fork: knight to c5 (e6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Fork: knight to d3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Fork: knight to f3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Fork: knight to e7 (c6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Fork: knight to d4 (c2·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Back-rank mate in 2 on e1 (e3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to h7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Back-rank mate in 2 on c1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Back-rank mate in 1 on f8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: rook to d1 (d8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Back-rank mate in 1 on e1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Back-rank mate in 2 on e1 (e4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 1: queen to e1 (a5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 17 →