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Tactic

Fork

One piece attacks two or more enemy pieces at the same time, making it impossible to save both.

Starting position

The Setup

In this position, Black's king and queen are sitting quite close to each other. White has a knight looking for an outpost.

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Move sequences and interactive tour paths for Fork

Starting Position (FEN): r2q3k/5ppp/8/4N3/8/8/8/7K w - - 0 1

The Knight Fork

  • The Setup - In this position, Black's king and queen are sitting quite close to each other. White has a knight looking for an outpost.
  • Nxf7+: The Knight Forks - White's knight leaps to f7, attacking both the black king and the black queen simultaneously. Because the knight attacks in an L-shape, it is the absolute best piece for forking multiple targets.
  • Kg8: The King Escapes - When the king is in check, it must be the first priority. Black steps the king to safety, but has no time to save the queen.
  • Nxd8: Winning the Queen - White captures the queen, easily winning the game. The fork is one of the most common and devastating tactics in chess.
For experienced players

Knight forks are incredibly common in the opening and middlegame, especially on the c2/c7 squares (forking the king and rook) or f2/f7 squares. Look for undefended pieces or pieces of high value that share the same knight-jump geometry.

See also:How the Knight Moves·Double check

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