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Day 174: 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: queen to f7 (g7·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·35)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f4 (f3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b5 (c3·8)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to a1Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d4 (b3·5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to h8 (g6)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d3 (c2·5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c2 (d1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a5 (b4·6)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: bishop to f6 (b2·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to c7 (d5)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to e6 (f4·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to g6 (e5)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to g5 (h4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Win the hanging king on f5Shuffle Rating 955Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 1: knight to f6Shuffle Rating 956Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: rook to d8Shuffle Rating 943Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (h1·7)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (g6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d1)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to b8 (f4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to c5 (d3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d5 (e3·11)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b4 (a4·2)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 2: bishop to h6Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: rook to b8 (b1·8)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (d1·11)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g5 (h4·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 175 →