ChessAnalyzerForks: chess tactics explained, with 10 puzzles
A fork is one piece attacking two or more targets at once. The opponent can only save one of them. Knights are the classic forking piece because nothing can block their jump; queens and pawns fork too. Checks make the best forks, because the king must move first.
Every puzzle below comes from a real game position, and every solution was verified with Stockfish 18: each move you need to find is the only good move — the second-best alternative is at least two pawns worse. Try to solve each one before opening the solution.
Puzzle 1 Beginner
Black to move. Find the move that attacks two targets.
Hint
Which piece can land on a square that hits two targets? Try your knight.
Solution
21… Nxe3
Nxe3 attacks two targets at once. Only one can be saved. 21… Nxe3. Black wins the queen.
Puzzle 2 Beginner
White to move. Find the move that attacks two targets.
Hint
Which piece can land on a square that hits two targets? Try your knight.
Solution
15. Nxd6+
Nxd6+ attacks two targets at once. Only one can be saved. 15. Nxd6+. White wins the queen.
Puzzle 3 Beginner
White to move. Find the move that attacks two targets.
Hint
Which piece can land on a square that hits two targets? Try your rook.
Solution
8. Rxb8+
The rook on b8 attacks the king on e8 and the bishop on b7 at the same time. Only one can be saved. 8. Rxb8+. White wins a piece.
Puzzle 4 Beginner
White to move. Find the move that attacks two targets.
Hint
Which piece can land on a square that hits two targets? Try your queen.
Solution
24. Qxg4+
Qxg4+ attacks two targets at once. Only one can be saved. 24. Qxg4+. White wins a piece.
Puzzle 5 Beginner
Black to move. Find the move that attacks two targets.
Hint
Which piece can land on a square that hits two targets? Try your queen.
Solution
18… Qxe4+
The queen on e4 attacks the king on e1 and the bishop on g4 at the same time. Only one can be saved. 18… Qxe4+. Black wins the queen.
Puzzle 6 Beginner
Black to move. Find the move that attacks two targets.
Hint
Which piece can land on a square that hits two targets? Try your queen.
Solution
16… Qxe6
Qxe6 attacks two targets at once. Only one can be saved. 16… Qxe6. Black wins a piece.
Puzzle 7 Beginner
White to move. Find the move that attacks two targets.
Hint
Which piece can land on a square that hits two targets? Try your queen.
Solution
13. Qxb2
Qxb2 attacks two targets at once. Only one can be saved. 13. Qxb2. White wins the queen.
Puzzle 8 Beginner
Black to move. Find the move that attacks two targets.
Hint
Which piece can land on a square that hits two targets? Try your bishop.
Solution
14… Bxc3+
The bishop on c3 attacks the king on e1 and the rook on a1 at the same time. Only one can be saved. 14… Bxc3+. Black wins a piece.
Puzzle 9 Beginner
Black to move. Find the move that attacks two targets.
Hint
Which piece can land on a square that hits two targets? Try your knight.
Solution
21… Nxc4
The knight on c4 attacks the rook on a3 and the bishop on d2 at the same time. Only one can be saved. 21… Nxc4. Black wins a piece.
Puzzle 10 Beginner
Black to move. Find the move that attacks two targets.
Hint
Which piece can land on a square that hits two targets? Try your bishop.
Solution
14… Bxf3+
The bishop on f3 attacks the king on e2 and the rook on h1 at the same time. Only one can be saved. 14… Bxf3+. Black wins the queen.
Other tactics
Checkmate
A checkmate ends the game at once, so always look for checks first. Count the escape squares around the enemy king: if every one is covered …
Back-rank mate
A king that has castled behind three unmoved pawns has no air. A rook or queen landing on its first rank is mate unless something can block …
Pins
A pin attacks a piece that cannot move without exposing something more valuable behind it. When the piece behind is the king, the pin is abs…
Skewers
A skewer is a pin in reverse: the valuable piece stands in front. When it steps aside, the piece behind it is captured. Rooks, bishops and q…
Discovered attacks
Moving one piece can uncover an attack by the piece behind it. The moving piece is free to make its own threat at the same time, so the oppo…
Trapped pieces
A piece with no safe square is as good as lost. Look for enemy pieces deep in your half or on the edge of the board, attack them, and check …
Removing the defender
If a piece is only defended once, capture or chase away the defender and the piece falls. Ask of every enemy piece: what defends it, and can…