Day 259: Royal fork
Target rating: 782
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. Winning blow: queen to d1 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to e6 (d5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·82)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d5 (c3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g4 (g1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (c3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f4 (f1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a2 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (d5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: knight to g6 (f4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to e7 (g6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (b4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to h7 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to d5 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (g5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·74)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b3 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h4 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to f5 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b7 (h1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f2 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to g1 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 260 →