Day 73: Royal fork

Target Rating 699

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.

Types of the dayRoyal fork Uncastled king Hanging piece

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a1Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a5 (b3·3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a3Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (b4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (g1·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

6. Winning blow: knight to c7Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g5 (f6)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (d3·12)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g5 (d2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (f5·7)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: fork on h4Shuffle Rating 899 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

12. Fork: knight to f3 (e5)Shuffle Rating 900 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

13. Mate in 2: fork on b8Shuffle Rating 900 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

14. Fork: queen to f3Shuffle Rating 902 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

15. Fork: knight to c6 (e7)Shuffle Rating 905 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g3Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g4 (f3·9)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (e3·7)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·39)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (h2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·28)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

22. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h5 (f4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (f3·10)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (f2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (e4·3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 1: knight to e7 (d5)Shuffle Rating 900 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

27. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (c1·13)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

28. Winning blow: pawn to g6 (h5)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Fork: knight to f4 (g6)Shuffle Rating 898 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

30. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (d1)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!