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Puzzle #48: 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. 5… Qb4+ — the queen goes to b4 with check and at the same time attacks the bishop on c4 and the knight on b5.
  2. 6. c3 is forced: it is the best way out of check.
  3. 6… Qxc4 — the queen takes the bishop on c4.

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 3 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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