Day 31: Royal fork
Target rating: 648
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. Fork: bishop to f5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to g3 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (b2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Fork: knight to d2 (b1)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (e4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Fork: knight to e5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to c8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to h6 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (d5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f7 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: queen to e1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (a4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (e4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Fork: knight to c4 (d6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (a1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Fork: knight to e7 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d4 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Fork: bishop to d5 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 32 →