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Day 235: 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: bishop to g2 (h1·6)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f1 (g1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (h2·18)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (d5·24)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e5 (a1·15)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (e4·6)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d5 (f5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (c4·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (h1·6)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d4 (d1·9)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (b4·7)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to b6 (d5·6)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (d5·17)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g6 (f4·5)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (e4·16)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: knight to c3 (d5)Shuffle Rating 987Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to e6 (a2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e3 (g4)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Fork: queen to a8Shuffle Rating 990Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to d1 (h1·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c3 (b2·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to d3 (b4)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Fork: knight to c6 (b4)Shuffle Rating 991Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (b4·9)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to h5 (g5)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: queen to d5 (f3·4)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: queen to d6 (f8·4)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d4·3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: knight to h5 (g3·5)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: pawn to e6 (d5·13)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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