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The fork
One piece, two targets.
A fork is a single piece attacking two targets at once. The opponent can only save one — so you win the other. The knight is the great forker because it jumps to squares no other piece guards, but any piece can fork.
Forks are deadliest with check: if one of the two targets is the king, the opponent MUST answer the check, leaving the second target to be captured next move.
- Fork = one piece attacks two things; only one can escape.
- The knight is the classic forker.
- A fork WITH check is strongest — the king must move first.
Why can't Black save both rooks in the diagram?
Answer the question to keep going!