Day 901: Royal fork
Target rating: 1896
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: rook to g8 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to f3 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: pawn to b5 (b4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to e5 (f6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to g7 (f8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to e3 (d2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to d1 (g1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to a4 (b3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to e6 (c4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to e6 (g4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Skewer: knight to e5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: rook to d8 (d7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (g8·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: rook to a6 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Fork: rook to b1 (b2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: rook to a7 (a8·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: queen to h8 (h7·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (e1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (g7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: rook to h7 (h1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: bishop to g5 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: knight to e6 (g5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: queen to b7 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: rook to d5 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c6 (a4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 902 →