Day 474: Royal fork
Target rating: 1212
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: queen to b7 (b5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to d4 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to f2 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to d6 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to g8 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to f3 (f1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to g6 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to b4 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Fork: knight to g6 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Fork: queen to e6 (d6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Fork: queen to c5 (c6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (c5·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: knight to f2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (c3·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (c3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to f6 (f2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to f7 (e6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to h8 (h6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to f6 (b2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to c1 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to g8 (h7·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to b5 (d4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e6 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 475 →