Day 88: Royal fork
Target rating: 723
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: pawn to g4 (h3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a3 (b2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: pawn to g6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to c3 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b5 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·26)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d6 (c5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·43)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Fork: queen to g5Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Fork: knight to f5 (e3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Fork: knight to f7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (f5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g5 (e3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·49)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e8 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b4 (a3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g6 (f5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (g3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b6 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·44)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (a7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·50)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g2 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 89 →