Day 675: Royal fork
Target rating: 1470
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 f6 (g8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to a5 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to c8 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to g8 (g6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 2: knight to e6 (c5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to g3 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (c4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to a6 (b4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 2: rook to g6 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to c3 (b2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (e4·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: bishop to b7 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to d7 (c7·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to d5 (f7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c7 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: discovered attack on f8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: rook to a8 (e8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: rook to h1 (a1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: rook to a8 (a7·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (d3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to a1 (a2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: pawn to g2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c2 (d1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to c8 (a8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 676 →