Day 646: Royal fork
Target rating: 1432
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 c2 (d3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to f1 (g1·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to e2 (e1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 2: rook to a7 (b7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: king to a2 (b1·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: king to f1 (e1·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (h5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to d2 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Fork: rook to c5Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to d7 (d6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to e5 (e4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to f7 (f4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (e4·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to e4 (c3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (h6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to g7 (g4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to e3 (f1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d1·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b7 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to f4 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to c6 (c4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to b5 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to h6 (g4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 647 →