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Double Attack: Two Threats, One Move

A Double Attack is a devastating concept in chess where a single move creates two simultaneous threats. Because a player can typically only answer one threat at a time, the other threat often succeeds.


1. The Royal Fork

Difficulty: Basic
1.Ne7+
Double attack on king and queen. This is the classic "Family Fork" pattern.

2. Opening Trap

Ruy Lopez Variation
4...Qd4!
In this Ruy Lopez line, Black equalizes with 1...Qd4 (relative to diagram), forking the Knight on e5 and the pawn on e4.

3. Tarrasch's Decoy

Hausler vs. Tarrasch
1...Rh1+!
2.Kxh1 Qxh3+ 3.Nh2 Ng3+ and white resigned as his Q is lost. Note that other lines like ...Nf4+ also win.

4. Central Fork

Uhlmann vs. Schwartz
1.Nd5!
Black resigned due to e.g. 1...exd5 2.Bxf6 threatening both Bxe7 and Qh7 mate.

5. The f7 Strike

De Veauce vs. Cafferty
1.Nxf7!
Wins at least the exchange as after 1...Kxf7 2.Bg6+ the black Q is lost via discovered attack.

6. The Melee

Anglo-Saxon vs. SteveCS
1...Nxf2!
2.Kxf2?! ...Rxc2+ 3.Kg1 Rxg2+. The key moves are ...Nxf2 and ...Rxc2+, exposing the King to double attacks.

7. Topalov's Fork

Nikolic vs. Topalov
1...Ne5!
White resigned as he cannot meet both of the threats ...Nxf3 and ...Qxh3.

8. Blackburne's Attack

Anon vs. Blackburne
1...Rxg2+!
2.Kh1 ...Rxh2+ 3.Kxh2 ...Rh6+ leading to mate. The double attack on g2 forces the King into the open.

9. Queen's Fork

Svenn vs. Kinnmark
1.Qf5!
Threatens both Qxd7 and Qxh7 mate. If 1...Qxf5 then 2.Nf7# (Smothered Mate).

10. The Quiet Move

Maric vs. Gligoric
1...Rb3!!
After 1...Rxc3 2.Rxf5, Black plays ...Rb3!! attacking the Queen and threatening back-rank mate. White resigned.

11. Pawn Fork Setup

Marzolo vs. Langrock
1.a3!
Wins a piece as 1...Ba5 is answered by 2.Qb3+ forking K and B.

12. Tal's Sacrifice

Tal vs. Timman
1.Rxe5!
1...fxe5 2.Ng5 Bf6 3.Nxe6 and black resigned. The Knight on e6 forks Queen and Bishop, and further material loss is inevitable.

13. Mate & Material

Flohr vs. Thomas
1.Qf5!
Threatens both Qxc5 and Qc8 mate. 1...Rc7 2.Qf8+ led to mate.

14. Restricting the King

Hebden vs. Moser
1.Rd1!
1...Qe6 2.Rd6 Bxd6 3.Ng5+. The move Rd1 prepared the double attack by controlling the d-file.

15. Pawn Fork

Anand vs. Adams
1.b5!
1...Nxc3 2.Qd3 g6 3.Bxc3 and white will win either B or N.

16. Kasparov's Web

Kasparov vs. Ligterink
1.Nb6!
1...Bxe4 2.Bxe4 Ra7 3.Nc8! This threatens both 4.Nxa7 and 4.Rxb8. 4.Qf5 also threatens both Qxc8 and Qxh7+ wins.

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