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Day 3: 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: queen to g2 (d5)Shuffle Rating 636Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
2. Fork: knight to c5Shuffle Rating 644Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 1: queen to f1 (f2)Shuffle Rating 655Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
4. Skewer: rook to g4Shuffle Rating 666Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (d3)Shuffle Rating 602Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 2: queen to f8Shuffle Rating 611Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Back-rank mate in 1 on d8Shuffle Rating 612Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7Shuffle Rating 620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g7 (f5·2)Shuffle Rating 620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (a1)Shuffle Rating 620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: queen to b8Shuffle Rating 632Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Fork: knight to e2Shuffle Rating 645Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Fork: knight to e7Shuffle Rating 647Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Fork: knight to e2 (c3)Shuffle Rating 654Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Fork: knight to d4Shuffle Rating 656Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (c6)Shuffle Rating 639Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f3)Shuffle Rating 655Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Skewer: rook to a5Shuffle Rating 666Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (d3·2)Shuffle Rating 604Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Discovered attack: bishop to d4Shuffle Rating 687Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 1: rook to h5Shuffle Rating 608Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Back-rank mate in 2 on a1Shuffle Rating 612Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7Shuffle Rating 620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6Shuffle Rating 620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (b1)Shuffle Rating 620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g6 (f5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c8 (d6)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b6 (a7)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 1: queen to f7 (b3)Shuffle Rating 645Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 2: rook to e8Shuffle Rating 660Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 4 →