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Royal Forks, and Defending a Fork

A royal fork attacks the king and the queen together. It is the most famous knight fork in chess.

A royal fork

The knight jumps from b5 to d6. It gives check to the king on e8 and attacks the queen on c8. The king must move, and the queen is lost.

FEN: 2q1k3/8/8/1N6/8/8/8/6K1 w - - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 . . q . k . . . 8
7 . . . . . . . . 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . N . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . . . . 2
1 . . . . . . K . 1
  a b c d e f g h

Defending before the fork lands

The black knight on d5 threatens Ne3, which would fork the king on g1 and the queen on d1. White plays Qe2 first. The queen leaves the fork square, so the fork is gone.

FEN: 4k3/8/8/3n4/8/8/8/3Q2K1 w - - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 . . . . k . . . 8
7 . . . . . . . . 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . n . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . . . . 2
1 . . . Q . . K . 1
  a b c d e f g h

Key points

  • A royal fork is a knight fork of king and queen.
  • The check forces the king to move.
  • The queen cannot be saved after the king moves.
  • A royal fork wins the queen for a knight.
  • Defend a fork by moving one target before the fork lands.
  • Defend a fork by attacking the forking piece.
  • Defend a fork by putting a piece on the fork square or covering it.

Try it Yourself

Edit the code, then press Run.

Running is simulated · Rust Playground

Exercise

White to move. Which move is a royal fork of the king on e8 and the queen on c8?