Day 700: Royal fork
Target rating: 1346
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 d4 (f3·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to c3 (b2·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to c6 (b4·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (d5·36)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to d8 (e6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to h7 (g7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b1 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (a1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to f6 (g6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to f5 (g3·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b6 (d5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to g6 (g5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to f6 (g7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to f7 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to b7 (h1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to g7 (g5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to c7 (g3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to e6 (h6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to d8 (f8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e3 (g1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to c7 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to b2 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 701 →