1.

[Now let's spend some time examining knight forks, a weapon you'll want to have at your fingertips. How can white win a piece here?

{Y:0}{B:64}{X:b3}{P:BKb3}{X:d3}{P:BRd3}{X:e4}{P:WNe4}{X:c7}{P:BBc7}{X:g5}{P:BQg5}{X:h4}{P:BPh4}{X:h4}{X:g5}{X:f8}{P:BQf8}{X:a6}{P:BRa6}{X:b5}{P:BBb5}{X:e8}{P:WBe8}{X:a6}{X:a8}{P:BRa8}{Y:1}{D:500}{S:e4c5}{D:1000}{A:Cc5d3}{A:Xc5b3}{D:1000}{R}{C}{W:252a}{B:8/7p/4n1pP/3k4/4N3/6K1/6P1/3b1B2}{W:sil500}{V:{SAVE}Now let's spend some time examining knight forks, a weapon you'll want to have at your fingertips. How can white win a piece here?

  {W:252b};

$Knight C3 check, forking the king and bishop.

  {S:e4c3}{A:Cc3d5}{A:Cc3d1}

  {W:252c}{C}{R}{S:d5d4}{D:500}{S:c3d1}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{J}

$e4c3;Very good! Knight C3 check, forking the king and bishop.

  {A:Cc3d5}{A:Cc3d1}{W:verygood}{W:252c}

  {C}{R}{S:d5d4}{D:300}{S:c3d1}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c Incorrect. Remember, a fork is when two pieces are attacked by one.

  {W:notquiteright}{RETRY};

e4g5:$cIncorrect. Remember, you do not want to place your knight in danger.

  {D:1000}{S:e6g5}{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

e4f6:$cGood. You can force the king and pawn and win a pawn. However, you could have won a more valuable piece. Try to find the better move.

  {A:Cf6d5}{A:Cf6h7}{D:1000}{R}{S:d5e5}{D:1000}{S:f6h7}{W:252d}{RETRY};

Can you see a way to attack two valuable pieces at once?}

]

2.

[

{B:4r3/p7/k6p/8/4q3/8/8/1r5b}{IJ:In this exercise, click on every square where the white knight can fork two black pieces.{W:253};

c3c5c7d2d6f6f2g3; 

{H:c3c5c7d2d6f6f2g3}You got it right!{W:welldone}{W:sil1000}{J};

That’s not all of them.{W:notquiteit2};

Incorrect. Remember, a fork is when two pieces are attacked by one.;

Remember, a knight moves two squares forward, one to the side.}

]

3.

[

{B:4q3/7r/8/1k6/8/5r2/8/3b4}{IJ:Now click on every square where a white knight could fork two black pieces without getting captured.{W:254};

d4d6g5; {H:d4d6g5}Very good!{W:verygood}{W:sil1000}{J};

That’s not all of them.;

Incorrect. Remember, a fork is when two pieces are attacked by one.;

f6c3c7:Incorrect. Your knight can be captured.;

Remember, a knight moves two squares forward, one to the side.}

]

4.

[In the middle game and opening, knight forks often take place on the F7 square, like in this position. Here the white knight forks the black queen and rook. One way this type of fork can arise is in an opening that I used to play as a kid called, "the fried liver". From the beginning I would play E4. My opponents would play E5. You usually want to develop a pawn in the center of the board at the beginning. Then you want to develop a central knight. I'd play knight F3, attacking his E pawn. My opponents would play knight C6 defending. Then I'd play bishop C4. Notice how I'm developing my pieces into the center of the board, and I'm preparing my king to castle into safety. My opponents would play knight F6, and now I would play the move knight G5. A lot of the time, they would play a move like D6 here.

{B:3q3r/5N2/8/8/8/8/8/8}{D:3000}{A:Cf7d8}{A:Cf7h8}{D:6000}{B:3q3r/5N2/8/8/8/8/8/8}{D:7000}{B:rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR}{S:e2e4}{D:1000}{S:e7e5}{D:5500}{S:g1f3}{D:1000}{A:Cf3e5}{D:1000}{S:b8c6}{D:1000}{A:Gc6e5}{D:1000}{R}{S:f1c4}{D:6000}{H:f1g1}{D:2000}{C}{S:g8f6}{A:Cf6e4}{A:Gf6d5}{H:d5}{D:3500}{R}{C}{S:f3g5}{D:3000}{S:d7d6}{W:255a}{V:{SAVE}Now, what's white's best move?;

$Here you could play the fork that I showed you above. Knight takes F7, forks the queen and rook. You see, the bishop on C4 defends the knight, so the black king can't capture it. After the knight takes F7, black should move the more valuable piece out of the attack with queen E7, and white plays knight takes H8 and has won a rook. I can't tell you how many games I won with this trap as a six and seven year old boy, but I didn't show you this opening to memorize it and try to start winning chess games fast. Memorizing opening traps is the wrong way to study chess, because then we're not learning the heart of the game. The reason I showed you this opening is because I want you to see how patterns we work on with just a few pieces on the board can be repeated in much more complicated situations. So as this course goes along, just try to get a feeling for the essence of each tactical and strategical device I show you. These are the principles of chess, and they can be applied to any situation. The key is to learn the basics in a more simplified atmosphere, so we can focus on what's essential.

{S:g5f7}{A:Cf7d8}{A:Cf7h8}{D:5000}{R}{A:Gc4f7}{A:Ce8f7}

{D:3000}{R}{D:4500}{S:d8e7}{4000}{S:f7h8}{W:255c}{W:255d}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{J}

$g5f7;Good job! Here you could play the fork that I showed you above. Knight takes F7, forks the queen and rook. You see, the bishop on C4 defends the knight, so the black king can't capture it. After knight takes F7, black should move the more valuable piece out of the attack with queen E7, and white plays knight takes H8 and has won a rook. I can't tell you how many games I won with this trap as a six and seven year old boy, but I didn't show you this opening to memorize it and try to start winning chess games fast. Memorizing opening traps is the wrong way to study chess, because then we're not learning the heart of the game. The reason I showed you this opening is because I want you to see how patterns we work on with just a few pieces on the board can be repeated in much more complicated situations. So as this course goes along, just try to get a feeling for the essence of each tactical and strategical device I show you. These are the principles of chess, and they can be applied to any situation. The key is to learn the basics in a more simplified atmosphere, so we can focus on what's essential.

{A:Cf7d8}{A:Cf7h8}{D:5000}{R}{A:Gc4f7}{A:Ce8f7}{D:3000}{R}{D:6000}{S:d8e7}{4000}{S:f7h8}{D:9000}{S:h8f7}{P:BRh8}{D:3000}{S:e7d8}{D:3000}{S:f7g5}{PBPf7}{D:3000}{S:d6d7}{D:3000}{S:g5f3}{W:goodjob}{W:255c}{W:255d}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c Incorrect. We are looking for white's best move.{W:notquiteit2}{RETRY};

Look for a fork move.}

]

5.

[

{B:8/6p1/r3Np2/5b2/7P/1k6/5PP1/4R1K1}{V:{SAVE}What should white play here? Find the best move.{W:256a};

$Knight C5 check. Well, here we see that white has two forks. Knight C5 check and knight D4 check. We know that a rook is worth five pawns and a bishop is only worth three pawns, so let's win the rook. In chess, you'll often see a good move, then maybe a slightly better move, but take your time. Find the best move.

{S:e6c5}{A:Cc5b3}{A:Cc5a6}{D:1500}{C}{R}{S:c5e6}{D:500}{D:2000}{A:Te6c5}{G:WNc5}{H:c5}{A:Cc5b3}{A:Cc5a6}{D:1000}{A:Te6d4}{G:WNd4}{H:d4}{A:Cd4b3}{A:Cd4f5}{D:4000}{R}{O}{C}{S:e6c5}{A:Cc5b3}{A:Cc5a6}{D:1000}{R}{S:b3b4}{S:c5a6}{D:3000}{S:a6c5}{P:BRa6}{D:1000}{S:b4b3}{D:1000}{S:c5e6}{W:256b}{W:sil1000}{J}

$e6c5;Well done! Knight C5 check. Well, here we see that white has two forks. Knight C5 check and knight D4 check. We know that a rook is worth five pawns and a bishop is only worth three pawns, so let's win the rook. In chess, you'll often see a good move, then maybe a slightly better move, but take your time. Find the best move.

{W:welldone}{A:Cc5b3}{A:Cc5a6}{D:1500}{C}{R}{S:c5e6}{D:500}{D:2000}{A:Te6c5}{G:WNc5}{H:c5}{A:Cc5b3}{A:Cc5a6}{D:1000}{A:Te6d4}{G:WNd4}{H:d4}{A:Cd4b3}{A:Cd4f5}{D:4000}{R}{O}{C}{S:e6c5}{A:Cc5b3}{A:Cc5a6}{D:1000}{R}{S:b3b4}{S:c5a6}{D:3000}{S:a6c5}{P:BRa6}{D:1000}{S:b4b3}{D:1000}{S:c5e6}{W:256b}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c Incorrect. Remember, we are looking for white's best move.

  {W:notbest}{RETRY};

e6d4:$c Incorrect. While this is a good move that wins a bishop, it is not white's best move.{W:theresbetter}{RETRY};

The current theme of this section is Knight Forks.}

]

6.

[

{B:8/3N4/n5pp/8/8/3k2KP/5PP1/8 w}{V:{SAVE}What is white's best fork here?{W:257a};

${J}

$d7e5;Very good!{W:verygood}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c Incorrect. Remember, a fork is when two pieces are attacked by one.

  {W:notwuiteright}{RETRY};

d7c5:$cNo, that's not quite it!

{D:500}{S:a6c5}{W:notquiteit}{W:sil1000}{J};

Look for a fork in which your knight is not in danger from capture.}

]

7.

[White's best move is knight E5 check, winning a pawn. Again we see two possibilities, knight C5 and knight E5. This question is a little tricky because I don't want you to automatically fork the strongest piece at all times. Here knight C5 check would be a mistake, because the forked knight could simply capture the forker, knight takes C5. Remember, any time a knight attacks another knight, the attack is mutual.

{B:8/3N4/n5pp/8/8/3k2KP/5PP1/8}{S:d7e5}{A:Ce5d3}{A:Ce5g6}{D:1500}{R}{S:d3e4}{D:500}{S:e5g6}{D:2000}{B:8/3N4/n5pp/8/8/3k2KP/5PP1/8}{D:1000}{S:e5d7}{A:Td7c5}{H:c5}{G:WNc5}{A:Cc5a6}{A:Cc5d3}{D:1000}{A:Td7e5}{H:e5}{G:WNe5}{A:Ce5d3}{A:Ce5g6}{D:4500}{C}{R}{O}{D:1000}{S:d7c5}{D:2600}{S:a6c5}{D:4000}{B:8/3N4/n5pp/8/8/3k2KP/5PP1/8}{S:d7c5}{A:Cc5a6}{H:a6}{D:1700}{R}{D:300}{A:Ca6c5}{H:c5}{W:257b}

]

8.

[It's important as I teach you attacking themes for you to consider the other side of the coin. We need to develop our arsenal while consistently learning how to disarm the opponent. This position is a little different from the ones we've seen so far. Here white is forking black's rook and bishop. Do you see any way for black to avoid losing material?

{B:64}{D:1000}{P:BKa8}{D:2000}{P:BRa3}{D:1000}{P:BBd6}{D:2000}{P:BPg7}{D:500}{P:BPh6}{D:1000}{P:WNc4}{D:1000}{B:k7/6p1/3b3p/8/2N5/r7/2P3P1/5R1K b}{D:3000}{A:Cc4a3}{A:Cc4d6}{W:258a}{V:{SAVE}It's important as I teach you attacking themes for you to consider the other side of the coin. We need to develop our arsenal while consistently learning how to disarm the opponent. This position is a little different from the ones we've seen so far. Here white is forking black's rook and bishop. Do you see any way for black to avoid losing material?;

$Black can defend with rook A6. So after knight takes D6, he can recapture, rook takes D6, and we know that bishops and knight are both worth approximately three pawns. So no material was lost or won.

  {R}{S:a3a6}{D:2800}{S:c4d6}{D:1000}{S:a6d6}{W:258b}{W:sil1000}{J}

$a3a6;That's right! Black can defend with rook A6. So after knight takes D6, he can recapture, rook takes D6, and we know that bishops and knight are both worth approximately three pawns. So no material was lost or won ...

  {R}{D:2800}{S:c4d6}{D:1000}{S:a6d6}{W:thatsright2}{W:258b}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c Incorrect. Black will lose material after this move.

  {R}{W:notquiteit2}{RETRY};

Consider piece value. Is there an exchange possible?}

]

9.

[

{B:3r4/8/6p1/r7/3N2P1/5P2/5R1K/k7}{V:{SAVE}Whenever you fork, you want to find the most forcing alternative, so your opponent cannot defend. For example, take a look at the next position. Here white has two possible forks. What's the best move?

  {D:6000}{H:c6}{D:1000}{H:b3}{D:1000}{A:Td4c6}{D:500}{A:Td4b3}

  {D:2000}{R}{C}{W:259a};

$Clearly knight B3 check is most forcing and wins the rook outright.     {S:d4b3}{A:Cb3a1}{A:Cb3a5}{D:1000}{R}{S:a1b1}

  {D:1000}{S:b3a5}{W:259b}{W:sil1000}{J}

$d4b3;Well done!

Clearly knight B3 check is most forcing and wins the rook outright.

  {A:Cb3a1}{A:Cb3a5}{D:1000}{R}{S:a1b1}

  {D:1000}{S:b3a5}{W:welldone}{W:259b}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c Incorrect. Remember, a fork is when two pieces are attacked by one.

  {C}{R}{W:notquiteit2}{RETRY};

d4c6:$cThis is not your best move, even if it forks both rooks. You have better.

  {C}{R}{S:a5a8}{S:c6d8}{S:a8d8}

  {W:theresbetter}{W:sil500}{RETRY}

}

]

10.

[What happens after the mistake knight C6? White is forking the two black rooks. What should black play here? 

Well, there are a few ways to avoid losing the whole rook. First of all, either rook could move to A8 or D5 and defend the other one. So black would only lose the exchange, knight for rook, the equivalent of about two pawns.

In chess, we call the trade off of rook for bishop or rook for knight, "the exchange". So if you win a rook for a bishop, you've won the exchange. If you lose, for example, a rook for a knight, you've lost the exchange.

{B:3r4/8/6p1/r7/3N2P1/5P2/5R1K/k7}{D:1000}{S:d4c6}{D:2000}{A:Cc6a5}{D:500}{A:Cc6d8}{D:3000}{R}{D:2000}{H:a8}{H:d5}{D:500}{G:BRd5}{D:500}{G:BRa8}{D:2000}{R}{C}{O}{D:500}{S:d8d5}{D:1000}{S:c6a5}{D:1000}{S:d5a5}{D:4000}{Y:0}{B:3r4/8/6p1/r7/3N2P1/5P2/5R1K/k7}{S:d4c6}{Y:1}{D:4000}{S:a5a8}{D:1000}{S:c6d8}{D:1000}{S:a8d8}{W:259c}{W:259d}{W:259e}

]

11.

[

{B:3r4/8/6p1/r7/3N2P1/5P2/5R1K/k7 b}{V:But black has a better move after knight C6. Look for the most forcing escape.

{S:d4c6}{SAVE}{A:Cc6a5}{A:Cc6d8}{D:2000}{R}{W:259f};

$Rook H8 check. Get out of attack with tempo. You see, if the rook is checking the king, white is forced to move out out the way. This type of forcing response as an in-between move is called, "with tempo". White has to move the king, after which black can move the A5 rook and have gotten out of danger completely. So on both attack and defense, you want to minimize your opponent's chances by finding the most forcing alternative.

  {R}{S:d8h8}{A:Cc6a5}{A:Xh8h2}{D:7000}{R}{A:Cc6a5}{S:h2g2}

  {D:6000}{R}{S:a5a8}{W:259g}{W:sil1000}{J}

$d8h8;Good work! Rook H8 check. Get out of attack with tempo. You see, if the rook is checking the king, white is forced to move out out the way. This type of forcing response as an in-between move is called, "with tempo". White has to move the king, after which black can move the A5 rook and have gotten out of danger completely. So on both attack and defense, you want to minimize your opponent's chances by finding the most forcing alternative.

  {R}{A:Cc6a5}{A:Xh8h2}{D:7000}{R}{A:Cc6a5}{S:h2g2}{D:6000}{R}{S:a5a8}

  {W:goodwork}{W:259g}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c Incorrect. Remember, you must force your opponent to react.

  {R}{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

Try to force your opponent to react.}

]

12.

[Okay, this problem might be a little tough, because it uses a combination to set up a fork. You haven't yet learned the main idea that the combination is based on. It's coming up next. So don't worry if you have trouble. But try to solve it. It's good to stretch the mind.

Here white could set up a powerful fork. Take your time and see if you find the combination. Click "next" when you see the move.

{B:64}{D:1000}{P:BQa8}{D:2000}{P:BKd8}{D:2000}{P:WNb5}{D:2000}{P:WPb2}{D:1000}{P:WKd1}{D:1000}{P:WRe1}{W:260a}{B:q2k4/8/8/1N6/8/8/1P6/3KR3}{W:260b}

]

13.

[The correct move is rook E8 check, sacrificing the rook to set up a fork. A sacrifice, sometimes called "a sac" by chess players, is when you give up material to gain down the road. You see, if the black king moves out of check, the rook can capture the queen. This is called a skewer and looks like an x-ray attack on the queen. You've already seen this. Black's only choice is king takes E8, but now I'm sure you see the fork. Knight C7 check wins the queen. 

After you finish this course, you'll have no problem spotting combinations like these, but first we have to internalize the building blocks. Now let's learn about pins and skewers.

{B:q2k4/8/8/1N6/8/8/1P6/3KR3}{D:1000}{S:e1e8}{A:Ce8d8}{A:Dd8a8}{D:9000}{R}{S:d8d7}{D:500}{S:e8a8}{D:2000}{S:a8e8}{P:BQa8}{D:500}{S:d7d8}{D:6000}{R}{S:d8e8}{D:2500}{S:b5c7}{A:Cc7a8}{A:Cc7e8}{D:1500}{R}{S:e8d7}{S:c7a8}{W:260c}{W:260d}

]

