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Day 540: 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 g1 (f1·21)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: king to h1 (g1·6)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to d1 (d5)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to g2 (h1·4)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: king to f2 (f3)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: king to h1 (g1·27)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: king to b1 (a1·4)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to d1 (b2·2)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to g2 (g1·10)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to f1 (e1·14)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Fork: queen to d8 (d1)Shuffle Rating 1307Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Discovered attack: knight to f3 (e5·3)Shuffle Rating 1293Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (d4·3)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to d6 (b5·15)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (f5·21)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to d2 (f4·3)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: king to c1 (b1·22)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (f2·4)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: king to g1 (h2·5)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (d4·4)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to e1 (d1·7)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d4 (d1·14)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to a7 (f2·3)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h6 (c1·5)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to b1 (g1)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: queen to h7 (d3·5)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: queen to a6 (b6·2)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (b2·4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e1·9)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: pawn to g6 (g5·6)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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