Day 805: Royal fork
Target rating: 1556
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 e1 (f2·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to d3 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to g5 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to a5 (c4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to e1 (g1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b4 (d5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to f4 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (h2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to c7 (d7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to f7 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: bishop to f4 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: rook to d8 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: bishop to e5 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: bishop to c4 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: queen to h3 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: queen to g8 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to d5 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: rook to h2 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: bishop to c2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: knight to f6 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (h4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 806 →