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Day 877: 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: queen to c5 (b5·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: bishop to a3Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to g3 (d3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (f5·3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to b5 (c5)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to e5 (e4)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (e6·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to e3 (e7)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (d6·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: knight to e6 (g7·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 3: rook to c7 (c1·3)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: rook to f8 (h8·2)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to b8 (b4)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: rook to a8 (b8)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (e1·12)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to b8 (h8)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: pawn to f5 (e4·17)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to d6 (e5·8)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to f5 (f3·8)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to e7 (e4·3)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to b6 (g1·8)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to d7 (c6·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to b3 (c2·12)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to f6 (d5·14)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to f3 (g5)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 3: queen to f3 (f5)Shuffle Rating 2092Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Chess960 tactic on c8 (g8)Shuffle Rating 2120Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Discovered attack: rook to c4Shuffle Rating 2189Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (d8·2)Shuffle Rating 1990Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: bishop to e2 (d1·2)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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