Tactics: The Fork

A knight and pawn double attacking two enemy pieces is called a fork. Let’s find out why.

A fork is a double attack by a knight or a pawn. This position is a crazy one, but White has a powerful knight fork. Find it!

#1 Complete

A royal fork! The greatest of all forks. The knight attacks the king and queen at the same time. Just for good measure, it is also attacking both rooks and the bishop, and even two black pawns. 

Can you find a way to make a deadly knight fork here?

Correct!

Great job! The knight is attacking the king and the rook at the same time. A killer fork!

Black has to get out of check — as always, the king is the first priority.
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We know you got this! Click through to finish the job…

#2 Complete

Of course! White captures the rook, and ends up a knight ahead. As you can see, a fork is a fearsome weapon, and not just for eating vegetables!

Your Move

(You play black)

White made a common opening mistake and Black can now force a powerful pawn fork through, winning a piece. How does Black start this tactical sequence?

Correct!

Congratulations!! First Black pushes the d-pawn. White doesn’t have time to save his pieces from the coming fork, since the bishop on c4 is under attack.

Your Move

(You play black)

The bishop moves away. If White instead played exd5, Black would recapture with the pawn (…exd5) and nothing would be changed.
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When you see two pieces like the bishop on e3 and knight on c3, stop and look for pawn fork possibilities! Find the move that wins a piece!

#3 Complete

Great job! The pawn on d4 attacks both the bishop on e3 and the knight on c3, and will capture one of them! 

Your Move

(You play white)

You must also look for ways to set up a fork. “Deflecting” a piece into forking position is one way of doing this. White’s knight on d5 is a “super-horsey,” and Black has not castled yet. Can you find the way to punish him for that?

Correct!

Super!! The rook pins the queen, so she will be captured unless she captures the rook.

Your Move

(You play white)

For a moment, Black is up a rook…
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Now how does White justify the rook sacrifice? Look for the fork!

#4 Complete

Great job! This is a “royal fork” — attacking the king and queen. The king will have to move, and White will capture the queen. The Ra8 move served to draw the queen away from guarding c7 while also forcing her into a position where she will be forked.