Day 25: Royal fork
Target rating: 638
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: rook to g1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 1: queen to a7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to a5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (a1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to b7 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 1: bishop to f6 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to g6 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to g6 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: rook to a4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (c5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to c7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to g6 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to e6 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to h2 (c7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (a1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 1: knight to h6 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to e1 (c3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: bishop to h3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to d1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 1: knight to f7 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 1: bishop to g2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 26 →