Day 777: Royal fork
Target rating: 1511
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: pawn to e5 (d4·26)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to b8 (b2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to e5 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to c8 (c1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to e3 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a5 (a1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to f1 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to c5 (d6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f2 (f1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: queen to h8 (g7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: queen to a7 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: king to b1 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: pawn to c7 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: queen to g5 (g8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: bishop to e5 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: rook to f7 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to f5 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: rook to b4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to c7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: bishop to g4 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: knight to d8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: pawn to f3 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: pawn to e6 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 778 →