Day 174: Royal fork
Target rating: 828
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. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (g7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·35)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f4 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b5 (c3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to a1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d4 (b3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to h8 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d3 (c2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c2 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a5 (b4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: bishop to f6 (b2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to c7 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to e6 (f4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to g6 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to g5 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Win the hanging king on f5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 1: knight to f6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: rook to d8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (h1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to b8 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to c5 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d5 (e3·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 175 →