Day 369: Royal fork
Target rating: 1076
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. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to c3 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g6 (h5·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to e7 (f5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (e3·45)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to b6 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d3 (c2·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to b1 (a1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to f8 (g7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to d7 (c5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b6 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h7 (b1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a7 (e3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (e5·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b6 (e3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (c2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h7 (d3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (h1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b3 (a3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f3 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (c5·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 370 →