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Day 38: 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 2: pawn to g6Shuffle Rating 859Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (c2)Shuffle Rating 859Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 2: rook to h8 (h7)Shuffle Rating 860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 1: bishop to h7Shuffle Rating 850Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 1: bishop to h7 (c2)Shuffle Rating 850Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 1: bishop to b7Shuffle Rating 850Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 1: bishop to h7 (c2·2)Shuffle Rating 850Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 1: bishop to h7 (e4)Shuffle Rating 850Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 1: bishop to d7Shuffle Rating 850Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Fork: knight to e6 (f4)Shuffle Rating 857Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Fork: bishop to d4Shuffle Rating 857Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Fork: knight to d6Shuffle Rating 858Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Fork: knight to f6 (d5)Shuffle Rating 860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Fork: knight to g3 (f5)Shuffle Rating 863Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Fork: pawn to e5Shuffle Rating 863Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 1: bishop to h7 (d3)Shuffle Rating 850Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 1: bishop to h7 (c2·3)Shuffle Rating 850Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h8 (h7·2)Shuffle Rating 850Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 1: bishop to h7 (c2·4)Shuffle Rating 850Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: rook to c8Shuffle Rating 814Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: queen to b1Shuffle Rating 786Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to f2 (f6)Shuffle Rating 815Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 1: knight to f2 (e4·2)Shuffle Rating 836Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g5 (e4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (e2)Shuffle Rating 792Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Skewer: rook to d8Shuffle Rating 866Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: knight to f6 (e4·4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: queen to h2 (h7)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Fork: knight to e2 (c3·3)Shuffle Rating 855Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b4 (d3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 39 →