Day 600: Royal fork
Target rating: 1368
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: knight to b6 (c4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to c3 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d3 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to e2 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g2 (e3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to c2 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d7 (e5·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c2 (e1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to h8 (h7·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to b7 (c5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Fork: rook to e1 (e8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Fork: queen to d4 (d6·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Fork: knight to h7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to h3 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Fork: knight to e2 (d4·6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Skewer: pawn to g4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to g7 (b2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: rook to a3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (g7·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: rook to b7 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: rook to b7 (c7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f6 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to b7 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c8 (b7·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 601 →