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Day 34: 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 g7 (d4·3)Shuffle Rating 756Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 1: rook to d2Shuffle Rating 839Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 1: knight to c5Shuffle Rating 838Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 2: queen to b1 (g6)Shuffle Rating 838Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
5. Fork: bishop to d6Shuffle Rating 839Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 1: queen to a8 (e4·2)Shuffle Rating 837Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: queen to f2 (c5)Shuffle Rating 759Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
8. Skewer: rook to g1Shuffle Rating 843Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (f6)Shuffle Rating 843Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: rook to d8 (d4)Shuffle Rating 843Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h6 (h4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to g6 (f6)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to e6 (f7)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Fork: knight to e2 (d4·2)Shuffle Rating 840Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Fork: knight to e7 (c6·4)Shuffle Rating 843Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: rook to c1 (c8·2)Shuffle Rating 844Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 1: rook to h3Shuffle Rating 841Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: knight to e7 (f5·3)Shuffle Rating 844Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 1: rook to f5 (f8)Shuffle Rating 845Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Fork: rook to b3 (b1)Shuffle Rating 844Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Fork: queen to d4Shuffle Rating 845Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Fork: knight to d4 (e6)Shuffle Rating 845Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (h1·4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (c3)Shuffle Rating 770Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (c7)Shuffle Rating 850Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: knight to d1 (b2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b2 (d4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 1: queen to h2 (d6·3)Shuffle Rating 823Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (g5·14)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 35 →