Day 497: Royal fork
Target rating: 1090
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. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (c3·37)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d6 (g3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (f1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (f4·33)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (c2·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b4 (d2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h1 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (e4·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to h7 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to f6 (g4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to a7 (a5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to f3 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: king to b1 (c1·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to e5 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to d2 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to g2 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to c8 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to c8 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to g8 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to b7 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to f6 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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