Day 524: Knight fork
Target rating: 1276
Lesson of the day
A fork is one move that attacks two targets at once, and no piece forks better than the knight. Look through the knight's eyes: it jumps in an L and never moves along straight lines, which is exactly why its threats get missed. Both victims of a knight fork always stand on squares of one color, while the knight strikes from the opposite color. Hunt for the square from which the knight hits the king and a heavy piece at once.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: queen to g7 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to e6 (f4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g4 (h3·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (b2·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to c5 (b3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: pawn to d3 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to c6 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to d8 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: knight to f7 (e5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (g5·30)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (d5·30)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to d7 (f6·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g7 (f5·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: rook to b7 (b8·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to c8 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (d8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to b7 (d5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to c8 (c7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: rook to h6 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to b7 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to g7 (h8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (f4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to e6 (b3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 525 →