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Day 25: 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. Mate in 1: rook to g1Shuffle Rating 811Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 1: queen to a7Shuffle Rating 828Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to a5Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (a1·4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to b7 (c6)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 1: bishop to f6 (d4)Shuffle Rating 821Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e8Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to g6 (b1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to g6 (e7)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: rook to a4Shuffle Rating 826Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (c5·4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (f5·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to c7Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to g6 (g7)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to e6 (f4·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to h2 (c7)Shuffle Rating 749Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h4Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (a1·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 1: knight to h6 (f5)Shuffle Rating 783Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to e1 (c3)Shuffle Rating 827Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: bishop to h3Shuffle Rating 752Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to d1Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (h1·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 1: knight to f7 (d6)Shuffle Rating 809Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 1: bishop to g2Shuffle Rating 827Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Discovered attack: bishop to f7 (d5)Shuffle Rating 836Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (f5·9)Shuffle Rating 850Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: bishop to e2Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 1: queen to h2 (d6·2)Shuffle Rating 789Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (g5·9)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 26 →