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Chess Fork - Attacking Two Pieces at Once
A Fork (or Double Attack) is one of the most deadly tactics in chess. It occurs when a single piece attacks two or more targets at the same time. Because the opponent can typically only save one piece per turn, the other target is often captured. Knights are especially famous for their forking ability!
🍴 Tactics insight: The fork is the knight's favorite weapon. It turns a stable position into a material win in one move. Master the geometry of the fork to punish loose pieces mercilessly.
Fork Examples
A fork is a tactical attack where a single piece threatens two or more enemy pieces at the same time. Because the opponent can usually respond to only one threat, forks often lead to winning material or delivering decisive checks. The following examples illustrate common fork patterns and how they arise in practical games.
1. Removing flight squares
Piay vs Hidalgo
1. Qh7+
Kf8 2. Nd7+ 1-0 (..,Bxd7 3. Qh8++ or ...,Ke7 3. Nxf6)
Kf8 2. Nd7+ 1-0 (..,Bxd7 3. Qh8++ or ...,Ke7 3. Nxf6)
2. Minor pieces rule!
Papas vs Oreopoulos
1.Nxd6+
{wins the Q by} 1...Nbxd6 2.Bxd5+ or (1...Nfxd6 2.Bxd5+)
{wins the Q by} 1...Nbxd6 2.Bxd5+ or (1...Nfxd6 2.Bxd5+)
3. Sanchez v Alcaraz
Sanchez vs Alcaraz
1. Rxf7+
Ke6 2. Ng5++ (1...Kxf7 2. Nxd6+) (1...Kd8 2. Nxd6)
Ke6 2. Ng5++ (1...Kxf7 2. Nxd6+) (1...Kd8 2. Nxd6)
4. Recovering material
Janakiev vs Jicman
1...Rxg1+
0-1 (2. Kxg1, Rxc1+ 3. Kf2, Rc2+ etc.)
0-1 (2. Kxg1, Rxc1+ 3. Kf2, Rc2+ etc.)
5. Never resign a won position (2)
Krejcik vs Schwarz
1...Kd5
{black resigned because of the impending knight fork, but in fact white should lose!} 2. Ne7+ Ke4 3. Nxc8 f3+ {the pawn will promote} 4. Kf2 (4.Ke1 Nc2 is strongest 5.Kf1 Nxb4 winning for black) 4...Bh4+ 5. Kg1 f2+ 6. Kh2 f1=Q 0-1
{black resigned because of the impending knight fork, but in fact white should lose!} 2. Ne7+ Ke4 3. Nxc8 f3+ {the pawn will promote} 4. Kf2 (4.Ke1 Nc2 is strongest 5.Kf1 Nxb4 winning for black) 4...Bh4+ 5. Kg1 f2+ 6. Kh2 f1=Q 0-1
6. Marzolo vs. Langrock
Marzolo vs Langrock
1.a3
wins a piece as 1...Ba5 is answered by 2.Qb3+ forking K and B. {Not, however, 1.Qb3+ Kh8 2.a3 because of the reply 2...Ba6.}
wins a piece as 1...Ba5 is answered by 2.Qb3+ forking K and B. {Not, however, 1.Qb3+ Kh8 2.a3 because of the reply 2...Ba6.}
7. Tal vs. Timman
Tal, M vs Timman, J
1.Rxe5
fxe5 2.Ng5 Bf6 3.Nxe6 {and black resigned as further material loss is inevitable e.g. 3...Bxh4 4.Nxc7 and the Re8 is trapped}
fxe5 2.Ng5 Bf6 3.Nxe6 {and black resigned as further material loss is inevitable e.g. 3...Bxh4 4.Nxc7 and the Re8 is trapped}
8. Anand vs. Adams
Anand vs Adams
1.b5
Nxc3 2.Qd3 g6 3.Bxc3 and white will win either B or N
Nxc3 2.Qd3 g6 3.Bxc3 and white will win either B or N
⚡ Chess Tactics Guide
This page is part of the Chess Tactics Guide — Learn chess tactics through core patterns and practical training — from forks, pins, and skewers to discovered attacks, deflection, and mating ideas.
📖 Essential Chess Glossary
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