Open in the app

Day 326: 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: pawn to c4 (b3·40)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to d5 (c7·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g7 (g6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c4 (b2·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to g7Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: pawn to f5 (g4·5)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to c6 (d4·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to g1 (h1·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (d5·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to b1Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: knight to e6 (c7·3)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to e6 (g7·6)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (g2·2)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to d6 (b7·2)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to b7 (a7·3)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a3 (d3)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (e3·5)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to c4 (f1·2)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to e1 (a1·4)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to e2 (h5)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a6 (d3)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6 (b1·12)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (b1·8)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (e3·3)Shuffle Rating 1115Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g5 (c1·2)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: knight to d4 (c6·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Castling-960 to the rescue on g8Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 2: knight to g6 (h4·3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d7 (d6·2)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: queen to g7 (h6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 327 →