Day 34: Royal fork
Target rating: 652
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. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (d4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 1: rook to d2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 1: knight to c5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 2: queen to b1 (g6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
5. Fork: bishop to d6Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 1: queen to a8 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: queen to f2 (c5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
8. Skewer: rook to g1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: rook to d8 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h6 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to g6 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to e6 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Fork: knight to e2 (d4·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Fork: knight to e7 (c6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: rook to c1 (c8·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 1: rook to h3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: knight to e7 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 1: rook to f5 (f8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Fork: rook to b3 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Fork: queen to d4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Fork: knight to d4 (e6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (h1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 35 →