Day 425: Royal fork
Target rating: 1150
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: king to c1 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to b1 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: king to c1 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to e7 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to e2 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d7 (e5·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: king to f2 (g1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to g6 (e7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to b1 (a2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d4 (f3·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (d5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (f4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (g4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to a5 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to c6 (a7·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c7 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d1·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to g8 (g1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: knight to c7 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: rook to d6 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to g6 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b7 (c6·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e1 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 426 →