Open in the app

Day 55: Knight fork

Lesson of the day

A fork is one move that attacks two targets at once, and no piece forks better than the knight. Look through the knight's eyes: it jumps in an L and never moves along straight lines, which is exactly why its threats get missed. Both victims of a knight fork always stand on squares of one color, while the knight strikes from the opposite color. Hunt for the square from which the knight hits the king and a heavy piece at once.

Warm-up

1. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (f4·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (h1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·21)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (d3·7)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (b5·6)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a4 (d1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (f5·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b5 (d4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·10)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to g2 (g1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: knight to f6 (d5)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b6 (a4·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (d5·9)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to e7 (d5·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to f6 (e4·6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (d5·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to a5Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (c3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (d3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·11)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d8 (e7)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to h5Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f6 (e5·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h3Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Discovered attack: bishop to g5Shuffle Rating 902Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Discovered attack: bishop to h7 (d3)Shuffle Rating 904Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 1: pawn to e1Shuffle Rating 1000Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c3Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·14)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 56 →