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Day 738: 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: queen to b4 (c3·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to d1 (a1·5)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (a3·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to f8 (f1·13)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to f1 (g1·4)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to a7 (b5·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to e7 (e1·4)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to b8 (b1·13)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (e4·21)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to f5 (e3·18)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: knight to e5 (d3·22)Shuffle Rating 1620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (h1·15)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: rook to e5Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to a6Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: bishop to a5Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 1: queen to d5 (a2)Shuffle Rating 1615Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: double attack on e6Shuffle Rating 1617Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to b8 (b2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: knight to c8 (d6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Back-rank mate in 3 on d1 (d8)Shuffle Rating 1639Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: discovered attack on f3 (d2)Shuffle Rating 1620Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: pawn to e6 (f5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (f3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: knight to e5 (d3·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: pawn to f7 (f6·4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: queen to f2 (f5·2)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Discovered attack: knight to d4 (f5)Shuffle Rating 1867Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h2 (h1·6)Shuffle Rating 1890Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 3: knight to c6Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: queen to d6 (d1·2)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 739 →