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Day 646: 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 c2 (d3·4)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to f1 (g1·25)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (f2·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to e2 (e1·13)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 2: rook to a7 (b7·3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: king to a2 (b1·24)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (d7·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: king to f1 (e1·16)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (h5·6)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to d2 (d3·2)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Fork: rook to c5Shuffle Rating 1431Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to d7 (d6·5)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to e5 (e4·8)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to f7 (f4·6)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (e4·11)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to e4 (c3·7)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (h6·3)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to g7 (g4·2)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to e3 (f1·4)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d1·21)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b7 (b5)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to f4 (e4·2)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to c6 (c4·5)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to b5 (e5·2)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to h6 (g4·3)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h8·7)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 2: queen to g8 (d5·3)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: bishop to b4 (a5·2)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: queen to b7 (a7·5)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (h6·2)Shuffle Rating 1404Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 647 →