Day 11 · Week 02 · Forks
Creating Forks
Move from spotting existing forks to engineering them by forcing targets onto vulnerable squares.
Strong tactics are often created rather than found. A forcing move can push the king onto a fork square, remove a defender, or make a valuable piece occupy the same tactical geometry as another target.
When creating a fork, the setup move is the real tactical idea. The fork is only the payoff. Calculate from the setup move through the opponent's best defense; do not assume the opponent cooperates.
Training flow: 1. Compare 'fork now' vs 'force first'. 2. Attraction-to-fork-square examples. 3. Deflection-before-fork examples. 4. Independent two-move sequences. 5. One position where no forced fork can be created.
Common errors: Playing the fork idea before the forcing setup. Assuming a forced reply that is not forced. Ignoring a defensive intermezzo. Overpaying material for a small fork gain.
Mastery gate: 6/8 correct with exact setup move + opponent reply + fork named on every correct solution.
Review: Describe one fork as a three-part story: setup, forced reply, payoff.
Duration: 70–90 min
Find the knight check that also attacks the queen.
LESSON · difficulty 2 · fork/knight-queen · 0s · attempts 0 · hints 0
Nb3 is a knight check that also attacks the queen. After every reply, that piece can be taken without the knight hanging.
Find the knight check that also attacks the rook.
THINK · difficulty 2 · fork/knight-rook · 0s · attempts 0 · hints 0
Find the knight check that also attacks the queen.
PUZZLE · difficulty 2 · fork/knight-queen · 0s · attempts 0 · hints 0
Find the knight check that also attacks the rook.
PUZZLE · difficulty 2 · fork/knight-rook · 0s · attempts 0 · hints 0
Find the discovered check.
PUZZLE · difficulty 2 · check/discovered · 0s · attempts 0 · hints 0
Find the move that forces mate in two.
PUZZLE · difficulty 2 · mixed/calculation · 0s · attempts 0 · hints 0
You are in check. Find the move that keeps the most material.
PUZZLE · difficulty 2 · defense/check · 0s · attempts 0 · hints 0
Your loose piece is attacked. Save it.
PUZZLE · difficulty 2 · loose piece/save · 0s · attempts 0 · hints 0