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Day 675: 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: knight to f6 (g8)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to a5 (e1·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to c8 (f5)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to g8 (g6·3)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 2: knight to e6 (c5·3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to g3 (g1)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (c4·5)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to a6 (b4·3)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 2: rook to g6 (c6)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to c3 (b2·4)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (e4·9)Shuffle Rating 1489Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: bishop to b7 (g2·2)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to d7 (c7·7)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to d5 (f7·2)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c7 (c6)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: discovered attack on f8Shuffle Rating 1487Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: rook to a8 (e8)Shuffle Rating 1497Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: rook to h1 (a1·2)Shuffle Rating 1500Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: rook to a8 (a7·7)Shuffle Rating 1509Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (d3·7)Shuffle Rating 1518Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to a1 (a2)Shuffle Rating 1526Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d5·3)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: pawn to g2Shuffle Rating 1536Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c2 (d1·7)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to c8 (a8·2)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Fork: bishop to g6Shuffle Rating 1653Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: pawn to f7 (f6·14)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 3: bishop to c7 (b8)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: king to g2 (g1·11)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (h1·14)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 676 →