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Day 137: Royal fork

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: bishop to e3 (c1·4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·76)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: king to g2 (g1·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (b3·37)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to h5 (g3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b6 (d4·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a5 (c3·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (e5·4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to d3 (c2·5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c3 (b2·21)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: knight to b6 (d5·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (g5·19)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: king to a1 (b2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b6 (c5·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to h6 (h7)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (h6)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (g4·16)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to f1Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (f2·15)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to e6Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b4 (c2·4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·31)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·48)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: pawn to g3 (f2·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e6 (c8)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a7 (b8·2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: knight to d5 (f4·2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (e5·5)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 1: queen to f1 (a6)Shuffle Rating 954Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 2: deflection on h7Shuffle Rating 982Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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