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Day 425: 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. Winning blow: king to c1 (d1·2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to b1 (c1)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: king to c1 (b1)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to e7 (e6·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to e2 (e3)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d7 (e5·14)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: king to f2 (g1·4)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to g6 (e7·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to b1 (a2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d4 (f3·11)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (d5·9)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (f4·7)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (g4·6)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to a5 (c3·2)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to c6 (a7·6)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b2·3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c7 (c3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d1·22)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to g8 (g1·12)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: knight to c7 (e6)Shuffle Rating 1220Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: rook to d6 (c6)Shuffle Rating 1220Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to g6 (f5)Shuffle Rating 1220Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (a6)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b7 (c6·7)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e1 (c1·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: king to d3 (c2·2)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g3·8)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Castling-960 to the rescue on h1 (g1·10)Shuffle Rating 1480Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: pawn to b8 (b7·4)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d1·14)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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