Day 572: Royal fork
Target rating: 1337
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: rook to c4 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b4 (e1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to d3 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to h8 (a1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to b5 (d6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: king to b2 (c1·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to e7 (f5·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to e7 (e1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to b5 (b4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to d8 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a6 (b4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Fork: queen to c4 (d4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Fork: queen to g4 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Pin: queen to h5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: pin on h4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to d5 (a5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Castling-960 to the rescue on a1 (b1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (e4·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Castling-960 to the rescue on g8 (f8·4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f2 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to c8 (c4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Castling-960 to the rescue on a8 (d8·4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to d6 (c4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 573 →