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Day 777: 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: pawn to e5 (d4·26)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to b8 (b2·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to e5 (h2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to c8 (c1·3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to e3 (f2·3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a5 (a1·9)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to f1 (g3·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d1·12)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to c5 (d6·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f2 (f1·7)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 3: queen to h8 (g7·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: queen to a7 (g1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: king to b1 (c1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: pawn to c7 (c6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: queen to g5 (g8)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: bishop to e5 (d4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: rook to f7 (f2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to f5 (c5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: rook to b4Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to c7Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: bishop to g4 (d1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: knight to d8Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (f2·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: pawn to f3 (f2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: pawn to e6 (d5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 2: discovered attack on g8Shuffle Rating 1663Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c1·23)Shuffle Rating 1790Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 3: pawn to g3 (g2)Shuffle Rating 1820Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: bishop to f6 (a1·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: rook to b6 (d6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 778 →