Day 280: Royal fork
Target rating: 816
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: knight to c1 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c2 (b1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b2 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c5 (d3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h5 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b6 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·43)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a4 (a1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c5 (c2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (g8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: knight to f7 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (d5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to f5 (e3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (b5·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to c4 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to f6 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to a1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c5 (c1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to e1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to h7 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to h4 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to e5 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to b8 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (g5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to e4 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 281 →