Day 235: Knight fork
Target rating: 910
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: bishop to g2 (h1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f1 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (h2·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (d5·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e5 (a1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (e4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d5 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (c4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (h1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d4 (d1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (b4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to b6 (d5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (d5·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g6 (f4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (e4·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: knight to c3 (d5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to e6 (a2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e3 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Fork: queen to a8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to d1 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c3 (b2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to d3 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Fork: knight to c6 (b4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (b4·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to h5 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 236 →