Day 7: Royal fork
Target rating: 600
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. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (g6·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 2: rook to b8 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Fork: knight to d7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (a5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h7 (g5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 1: queen to e8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: rook to h8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Fork: rook to f4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Fork: rook to g3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Fork: knight to b3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Fork: knight to d4 (c2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Fork: knight to e2 (d4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (a5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 1: knight to c7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: rook to g8 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (a5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d7 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 8 →