Day 301: Royal fork
Target rating: 834
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: pawn to e5 (f4·70)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a2 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·88)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e4 (e1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (c4·27)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d5 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f4 (f1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d2 (e1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b4 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a2 (c3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: knight to e7 (g6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to g3 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (b5·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (b5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to e8 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: king to c2 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: king to e2 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to h1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to b5 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: pawn to b7 (c6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c1 (d1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f3 (g2·27)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g4 (e3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to b6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c8 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
26. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c7 (f4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g4 (h4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 302 →