Day 163: Knight fork
Target rating: 811
Lesson of the day
A fork is one move that attacks two targets at once, and no piece forks better than the knight. Look through the knight's eyes: it jumps in an L and never moves along straight lines, which is exactly why its threats get missed. Both victims of a knight fork always stand on squares of one color, while the knight strikes from the opposite color. Hunt for the square from which the knight hits the king and a heavy piece at once.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e3 (f2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b4 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g1 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (h1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a3 (b2·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a4 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a5 (b3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (g1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (e3·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: knight to d6 (c4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to e3 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (g7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h5 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f2 (e1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g7 (h6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to a7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a4 (b3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to b6 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (a5·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 164 →