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Day 497: 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 d4 (c3·37)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d6 (g3·5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (f1·14)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (f4·33)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (d2·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (c2·16)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b4 (d2·6)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (d4·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h1 (d5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (e1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (e4·13)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to h7 (d3·3)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to f6 (g4·5)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to a7 (a5·4)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to f3 (b7)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: king to b1 (c1·18)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to e5 (a5)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to d2 (b4)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to g2 (c2)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h8·2)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to c8 (h8)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to c8 (c2)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to g8 (h8)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to b7 (d7)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to f6 (c6)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: queen to c6 (b5·5)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Castling-960 to the rescue on e1 (d1)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: king to b1 (c2·6)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c1·18)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: king to b1 (c1·7)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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