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What a Fork Is

A fork is one piece attacking two enemy pieces at once. The opponent can usually save only one of them.

A knight fork of king and queen

The knight moves to f6. It attacks the king on e8 and the queen on d7 at the same time. The king must move, and the queen is lost.

FEN: 4k3/3q4/8/8/4N3/8/8/6K1 w - - 0 1

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

A pawn fork of two pieces

The pawn moves to d5. It attacks the bishop on c6 and the knight on e6 at the same time. One of the two pieces will be captured.

FEN: 4k3/8/2b1n3/8/3P4/8/8/6K1 w - - 0 1

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

Key points

  • A fork is also called a double attack.
  • One piece makes two threats in a single move.
  • The attacked pieces are both worth saving.
  • The opponent moves one piece to safety.
  • The other attacked piece is then captured.
  • A fork works best when one target is the king.
  • A check in a fork is strong because the king must move first.

Try it Yourself

Edit the code, then press Run.

Running is simulated Β· Rust Playground

Exercise

White to move. Which move forks the king on e8 and the rook on a8?