Adapted from the Chess Skills leaflets,
produced for the British Chess Federation by JE Littlewood and RA Furness.
Developed from the Tactics for Juniors sheets
originally prepared by RG Wade, R Bott and S Morrison.
The Knight Fork
A knight fork is a knight attack on two pieces at the same time.
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Here, the Black Knight attacks the White King, Queen and Rook – a family fork!
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White plays Nc5 with a double attack on the two Black Rooks.
Find the Knight Fork
1. White to move has a Knight fork to 2. White forces Black to move into a
win material Knight fork
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3. Again White has a knight fork to win 4. White’s wins a piece because of a
material knight fork to follow
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5. Black forces the White King or Queen 6. White to move
to a fatal square for a decisive Knight
fork
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7. White moves to threaten mate, with a 8. Black wins a piece due to a crushing
winning fork to follow Knight fork to follow
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9. Find Black’s next move 10. What should White play here
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11. Black wins a piece because of a 12. What is White’s best move and why
Knight fork to follow
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Answers
1. 1 Ne7+ forks the Black King and Queen
2. 1 Bc3+ Kg8 (if the Rook blocks the check, it is captured) 2 Nf6+ Kf8 3 Nxe8
Kxe8 and White has won the exchange, rook for knight.
3. 1 Ng6+ The Black Rook cannot capture because it is pinned against the King
by the White Queen.
4. 1 Qxd5 Qxd5 2 Nc7+ forking the Black King and Queen. White then captures
the Queen to emerge a Bishop to the good.
5. 1… Bxf2+. If the Bishop is not captured, it takes the White Queen on its next
move. If 2 Kxf2 Nxe4+ forking the King and Queen. If 2 Qxf2 Nd3+ also
forks King and Queen.
6. 1 Qh8+ Kxh8 2 Nxf7+ forking King and Queen
7. 1 Nc6 threatening both 2 Ra7 mate and Rb8 mate. If 1… dxc6 2 Rxf7. Now
for the Knight fork. If after 1 Nc6 Kxb7 2 Nd8+ forking King and Queen and
winning the Queen for the loss of a Rook.
8. 1… Qxb5 2 Bxb5 Nf3+ forking King and Queen. Black gains a Knight by
these exchanges.
9. 1… Ne4 forking the White Queen and Rook, winning the exchange.
10. 1 Qxc8+ Rxc8 2 Ne6+ forks King and Queen
11. 1… Qxd5+. If White plays 2 Qxd5, Black forks King, Queen and Rook with
2… Ne3+
12. 1 Qh8+ because Black has to capture and then Nxf7+ forks King and Queen.
White has won a Rook.
