Day 877: Royal fork
Target rating: 1861
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: queen to c5 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: bishop to a3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to g3 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to b5 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to e5 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to e3 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (d6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: knight to e6 (g7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: rook to c7 (c1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: rook to f8 (h8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to b8 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: rook to a8 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (e1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to b8 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: pawn to f5 (e4·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to d6 (e5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to f5 (f3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to e7 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to b6 (g1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to d7 (c6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to b3 (c2·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to f6 (d5·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to f3 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 878 →