Day 830: Royal fork
Target rating: 1768
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. Mate in 3: rook to f1 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (b2·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to b3 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 2: knight to a6 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to g4 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: bishop to d4 (b6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to h8 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: rook to e4 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: rook to g3 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g7 (f5·31)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: knight to e7 (d5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to c4 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: rook to f3 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (e6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: queen to d5 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: pawn to e4 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: rook to h8 (h4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to d3 (b5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to c5 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: knight to b7 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h6 (g4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: rook to d3 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (f2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: rook to b8 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 831 →