Day 38: Royal fork
Target rating: 659
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 2: pawn to g6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 2: rook to h8 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 1: bishop to h7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 1: bishop to h7 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 1: bishop to b7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 1: bishop to h7 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 1: bishop to h7 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 1: bishop to d7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Fork: knight to e6 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Fork: bishop to d4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Fork: knight to d6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Fork: knight to f6 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Fork: knight to g3 (f5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Fork: pawn to e5Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 1: bishop to h7 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 1: bishop to h7 (c2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h8 (h7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 1: bishop to h7 (c2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: rook to c8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: queen to b1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to f2 (f6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 1: knight to f2 (e4·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g5 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 39 →