Day 540: Royal fork
Target rating: 1302
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 g1 (f1·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: king to h1 (g1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to d1 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to g2 (h1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: king to f2 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: king to h1 (g1·27)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: king to b1 (a1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to d1 (b2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to g2 (g1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to f1 (e1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Fork: queen to d8 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Discovered attack: knight to f3 (e5·3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (d4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to d6 (b5·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (f5·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to d2 (f4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: king to c1 (b1·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (f2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: king to g1 (h2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (d4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to e1 (d1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d4 (d1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to a7 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h6 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to b1 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 541 →