Day 338: Knight fork
Target rating: 1043
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. Winning blow: pawn to a4 (a2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to c1 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to b7 (a8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to e1 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e2 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f7 (d5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: king to e1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to c2 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: knight to d4 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f5 (h6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to e4 (g5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f5 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d4 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b6 (g1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d2 (d1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to c4 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (d4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (d2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f4 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to b5 (c3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e1 (a1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d2 (c1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: pawn to g7 (h6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 339 →