Fork_(chess)

Fork (chess)

Fork (chess)

Chess piece attacking two or more pieces simultaneously

In chess, a fork is a tactic in which a piece attacks multiple enemy pieces simultaneously. The attacker usually aims to capture one of the forked pieces. The defender often cannot counter every threat. A fork is most effective when it is forcing, such as when the king is put in check. A fork is a type of double attack.

This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
d7 black king
b6 white knight
g4 black pawn
f3 white rook
h3 white rook
c1 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
The white knight forks Black's king and rook. Black's pawn forks the white rooks.

Terminology

A fork is an example of a double attack. The type of fork is named after the type of forking piece. For example, a fork by a knight is a knight fork. The attacked pieces are forked.[1] If the king is one of the attacked pieces, the term absolute fork is sometimes used. A fork not involving the enemy king is a relative fork.[2]

A fork of the king and queen, the highest material-gaining fork possible, is sometimes called a royal fork. A fork of the enemy king, queen, and one (or both) rooks is sometimes called a grand fork. A knight fork of the enemy king, queen, and possibly other pieces is sometimes called a family fork or family check.[3]

Strategy

Any piece can deliver a fork. Forks are most often delivered by knights: a knight is not attacked by a piece it attacks except for an enemy knight, and it can be exchanged for a more valuable piece.[4][5]

Since the queen is usually more valuable than the pieces it attacks, a queen fork gains material only when the pieces attacked are undefended or if one of them is the king and the other is undefended.

Game examples

Tissir vs. Dreev, 2004
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
g8 black king
b7 black pawn
d7 black queen
f7 black pawn
g7 black bishop
h7 black pawn
g6 black pawn
c5 white pawn
d5 black pawn
a4 black pawn
e4 black knight
f4 white queen
a3 white pawn
f3 white pawn
a2 white bishop
d2 white bishop
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
c1 white rook
h1 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Position after 33.Qe5–f4


This example is from the first round of the FIDE World Chess Championship 2004 between Mohamed Tissir and Alexey Dreev.[6] After

 33... Nf2+ 34. Kg1 Nd3

White resigned. In the final position the black knight forks White's queen and rook; after the queen moves away, Black will win the exchange.

Soppe vs. Braga, 1998
abcdefgh
8
g8 black king
f7 black pawn
g7 black bishop
e6 black pawn
h6 black pawn
b5 black pawn
d5 black knight
e5 white knight
e4 black queen
g4 white pawn
b3 white pawn
h3 white pawn
f2 white pawn
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
f1 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Position after 40.Nxe5


This example is from the ninth round of the Clarin GP Final between Guillermo Soppe and Fernando Braga.[7] After

 40... Qh1+

White resigned. The only move is 41.Ke2 which enables a royal fork with 41...Nc3+, winning the queen.

In the Two Knights Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6) after 4.Nc3, Black can eliminate White's e4-pawn immediately with

4... Nxe4!

due to the fork trick

5. Nxe4 d5

regaining either the bishop or the knight.

References

  1. [1]
    "The Fork • lichess.org". lichess.org. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  2. [2]
    "Chess Game Strategies - Next Chess Move". Chess Game Strategies.
  3. [3]
    Hooper & Whyld (1996), p. 132. family check.
  4. [4]
    "Fork in Chess - Chess Terms". Chess.com. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  5. [5]
    Hooper & Whyld (1996), p. 143. fork.
  6. [6]
    "Tissir vs. Dreev, Tripoli 2004". Chessgames.com.
  7. [7]
    "Guillermo Soppe vs. Fernando Braga, (1998)". Chessgames.com.

Bibliography

Further reading
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