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Day 830: 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. Mate in 3: rook to f1 (e1·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (b2·8)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (d7·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to b3 (e3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 2: knight to a6 (b4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to g4 (f5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: bishop to d4 (b6·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to h8 (h3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: rook to e4 (f4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: rook to g3 (g1·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g7 (f5·31)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: knight to e7 (d5·3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to c4 (c3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: rook to f3 (f1·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (e6·3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: queen to d5 (d1)Shuffle Rating 1853Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: pawn to e4 (f3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: rook to h8 (h4·3)Shuffle Rating 1773Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to d3 (b5)Shuffle Rating 1855Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to c5 (g1·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: knight to b7 (a5)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h6 (g4·4)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: rook to d3 (e3·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (f2·4)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: rook to b8 (b5)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: queen to c4 (d3·2)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: queen to a6 (c6)Shuffle Rating 1890Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Skewer: rook to b8 (b7)Shuffle Rating 2033Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 3: rook to f7 (f1·4)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: queen to d4 (e3·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 831 →