A pawn fork is a pawn move that attacks two enemy pieces at the same time, one on each diagonal in front of it. A pawn is worth the least, so either capture wins material.
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Pieces standing side by side, one square apart, can both be hit by a single pawn. Whatever the opponent saves, the other piece is lost for a pawn.
How to do it
- 1Find two enemy pieces on the same rank with one empty square between them.
- 2Push a pawn to the square diagonally in front of both.
- 3Make sure the pawn cannot be taken for free.
For your level
A pawn takes on the diagonal. It can hit two pieces. Then one piece is lost.
Common mistakes
- Placing two pieces side by side in front of an enemy pawn.
- Pushing for a fork when the pawn can be captured first.
Questions
- Is a pawn fork stronger than a knight fork?
- Often, yes. The pawn is the cheapest piece, so even if it is captured afterwards the trade is good. Any two pieces it forks are worth more than it is.