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Puzzle #41: Fork

Rating ≈ 1300 · 2 moves to find

Black to move and win material.

Puzzle position: Black to move and win material.♜︎♚︎♟︎♝︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♞︎♟︎♞︎♟︎♝︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♚︎h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
Show a hint

Look for a move that attacks two things at once.

Show the solution
  1. 28… Nd3+ — the knight goes to d3 with check and at the same time attacks the rook on c1.
  2. 29. Kd2 is forced: it is the best way out of check.
  3. 29… Nxc1 — the knight takes the rook on c1.

Why it works. One piece attacks two targets at once and the opponent can only save one. At the end of the line Black is about 5 points of material better off.

Themes: Fork, Winning material

Want to recognise this pattern faster? Read the guide.

This position comes from a training game and was checked with a chess engine: every move you need to find is the only one that works.

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