Day 298: Knight fork
Target rating: 984
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: knight to a5 (b3·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (h1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h4 (e1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e3 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (f3·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g4 (f3·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a4 (c3·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d1 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c7 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e3 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c4 (b3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (f5·27)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to h3 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: king to a2 (b1·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (h1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d2 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to g7 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (f4·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: knight to f6 (e4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to c2 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e6 (f5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (d4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to a8 (h1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (b1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 299 →