Day 55: Knight fork
Target rating: 670
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: pawn to e5 (f4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (d3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (b5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a4 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b5 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to g2 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: knight to f6 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b6 (a4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (d5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to e7 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to f6 (e4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (d5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to a5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d8 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to h5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f6 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 56 →