Day 275: Knight fork
Target rating: 958
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: rook to g5 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f2 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to b1 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g2 (g1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (c3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (d2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (h4·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c7 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to a6 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (d5·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to c7 (b5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b6 (a7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (f4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to f6 (h5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to h2 (h1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: king to g2 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: king to h1 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Discovered attack: bishop to h2 (d6·4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to d5 (e3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Discovered attack: bishop to h2 (d6·5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to g7 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to g2 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Discovered attack: knight to f6 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 276 →