Exercise 2.1Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 15.♗e3?. Find the move that punishes it.
2
Tactics Essentials · Kapilash Chess Academy
The Knight Fork
One knight, two targets
In this lesson you will learn
- What a fork is
- Why the knight is the best forking piece
- The classic fork squares: c7, f7, c2 and f2
- How to see knight forks before they happen
Every board on this page is live. Move the pieces by tapping or dragging, click any move in the lines to see that position, and press ↺ to start again.
2.1 What Is a Fork?
A fork is one piece attacking two or more enemy pieces at the same time. The opponent can save only one. The knight is the most dangerous forker: it jumps, it cannot be blocked, and it attacks pieces that are worth much more than itself.
Diagram 2.1White to move
Example 2.1 · The royal fork
White's knight can reach c7, a square that attacks both e8 and a8.
1.♘xc7+ checks the king and attacks the rook on a8. Black must move the king, and White wins the rook. When the enemy king and a rook or queen stand a knight's jump apart from the same square, look for a knight fork.
Diagram 2.2Black to move
Example 2.2 · A fork in the opening
White has just grabbed the e5-pawn, leaving the knight loose and g2 weak.
1...♕g5! attacks the knight on e5 and the g2-pawn. White's greedy 5.♘xf7 runs into 5...♕xg2 and a quick mate on f3 with the knight. This trap shows how a single queen move can create two threats — and why grabbing pawns in the opening is dangerous.
Fork squaresWatch the squares c7 and f7 (c2 and f2 for White). In the opening they are close to the king and the rooks, and a knight landing there often forks two big pieces.
Remember
- A fork attacks two pieces at once.
- Knights are the best forkers: they cannot be blocked.
- Look for squares that attack the king and a rook or queen together.
- Check your own position for enemy fork squares.
Exercises · Lesson 2
Every exercise comes from real opening play and has been checked with a chess engine. Find the strongest move and play it on the board.
Exercise 2.2Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 8...♕g4?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 2.3Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 10.♗d2?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 2.4Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 7...♘d4?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 2.5Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 10.♖c1?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 2.6Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 12...♗g7?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 2.7Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 8...f5?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 2.8Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 7...♕e8?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 2.9Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 7...♖h7?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 2.10Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 6...♕e7?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 2.11Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 9...♗f6?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 2.12Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 9.♕e2?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 2.13Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 12.♘c1?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 2.14Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 10...♗e6?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 2.15Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 10.♗e2?. Find the move that punishes it.