Open in the app

Day 163: Knight fork

Lesson of the day

A fork is one move that attacks two targets at once, and no piece forks better than the knight. Look through the knight's eyes: it jumps in an L and never moves along straight lines, which is exactly why its threats get missed. Both victims of a knight fork always stand on squares of one color, while the knight strikes from the opposite color. Hunt for the square from which the knight hits the king and a heavy piece at once.

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e3 (f2·6)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b4 (c2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g1 (e2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (f2·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (h1·10)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a3 (b2·13)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a4 (c2·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a5 (b3·6)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (g1·5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (e3·14)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: knight to d6 (c4·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to e3 (g2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (g7·2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h5 (g5·2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f2 (e1·13)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g7 (h6·5)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to a7Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a4 (b3·4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to b6 (d7)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (g3·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d8)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (a5·24)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (c3·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d1·6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 1: knight to f2 (h3·6)Shuffle Rating 974Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (a1·9)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h7 (b1·3)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: queen to c5 (a3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·102)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 164 →