A fork is a move in which one piece attacks two or more enemy pieces at the same time, so the opponent can save only one of them.
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Start0/7
The opponent has one move and two problems. If one of the attacked pieces is the king, the check must be answered first, and the other piece falls.
How to do it
- 1Look for two enemy pieces that one of your pieces could attack from the same square.
- 2Find a safe way to reach that square, with check if possible.
- 3Take whichever piece the opponent leaves behind.
For your level
One piece attacks two pieces. Your friend saves one. You take the other.
Check you have it
Pitch it for:
Question 1 of 1
Play the moves through and count. How much material has the attacker won?
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Common mistakes
- Forking two defended pieces, which wins nothing.
- Putting the forking piece where it can be captured.
Questions
- Which piece is best at forks?
- The knight. Its attack cannot be blocked, and its pattern is the hardest to see coming. Every piece can fork, though, and a pawn fork is the cheapest.
- How do I avoid being forked?
- Watch for your king and queen, or king and rook, standing a knight's move apart. Move one of them before an enemy knight can reach the forking square.