Fork puzzles
A fork is one move that attacks two pieces at once, so the opponent can only save one.
About fork puzzles
A fork is one move that attacks two pieces at once, so the opponent can only save one. Knights are the best forkers, but queens, pawns and bishops fork too.
How to spot it
- Look for squares that attack two enemy pieces at the same time, especially a king and a queen or rook.
- Check that the forking piece is safe on its new square, or that the fork comes with check.
- A move that attacks a piece and threatens mate is also a fork of sorts: look for it.
A common mistake
Forking with a piece that can be captured for free. Check that the forking square is safe.
A worked example
R
K
NR
B
Q
Q
R
N
BR
KWhite to move. Black has just played hxg6. Find the best move.
Solution: 12. Qxf7+ Kd7 13. Qxg7
Qxf7+ checks the king and also attacks the knight on g8 and the pawn on e7, so your opponent has to answer the check. The idea: A fork is one move that attacks two pieces at once, so the opponent can only save one.
The highlighted squares show Black's last move. This position is a different puzzle from the ones you start with above (968 rating).
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Questions
Which piece forks best?
The knight, because it jumps and attacks in an L shape no other piece can answer by blocking. A fork with check on the king wins whatever else the knight attacks.
Where do these puzzles come from?
They are real puzzles from the Lichess puzzle database, which is free to use under the CC0 license. Each one was built from a real game and tested by many players. We picked well-rated ones with good popularity scores.
Are the puzzles free?
Yes. There is no signup, no limit and no ads on the puzzles. Your progress on this page is not saved after you leave.
What do the difficulty levels mean?
Beginner puzzles are rated under 1250, intermediate 1250 to 1749 and advanced 1750 and up, using the rating Lichess players earned on each puzzle.