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Day 572: 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: rook to c4 (e4)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b4 (e1·9)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to d3 (b2)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to h8 (a1·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to b5 (d6·6)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: king to b2 (c1·23)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to e7 (f5·23)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to e7 (e1·13)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to b5 (b4·4)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to d8 (e8)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a6 (b4·2)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Fork: queen to c4 (d4)Shuffle Rating 1333Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Fork: queen to g4 (h4)Shuffle Rating 1330Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Pin: queen to h5Shuffle Rating 1345Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: pin on h4Shuffle Rating 1346Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to d5 (a5·3)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Castling-960 to the rescue on a1 (b1·5)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (d6)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (e4·17)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Castling-960 to the rescue on g8 (f8·4)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f2 (g3)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (e6)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to c8 (c4·4)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Castling-960 to the rescue on a8 (d8·4)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to d6 (c4·8)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: bishop to b6 (d4·3)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Fork: rook to g7 (h7)Shuffle Rating 1474Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 3: pawn to d7 (d6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: queen to h3 (h4)Shuffle Rating 1278Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 2: rook to a7 (a1)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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