Chess Fork Puzzles
Find the move that attacks two pieces at once. Every position comes from a real game, sorted from easy to hard.
What is a fork puzzle?
A fork puzzle asks you to find a move that attacks two or more of your opponent’s pieces at the same time. Your opponent can only save one, so you win material. Knights and queens deliver most forks, and the strongest forks come with check. New to the idea? Read the fork lesson first, then come back to practise.
The 119 puzzles on this page
Every position is taken from a real game in the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Puzzle ratings range from 624 to 2336, with a median of 1376. Ratings describe how hard the puzzle is, not your playing strength.
| Group | Puzzles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 55 | 46% |
| Intermediate | 37 | 31% |
| Advanced | 27 | 23% |
| Opening | 13 | 11% |
| Middlegame | 52 | 44% |
| Endgame | 54 | 45% |
How to solve fork puzzles
- List every loose (undefended) piece and the king; those are your targets.
- Look for squares that attack two targets at once, especially knight squares.
- Check whether the forking square is defended before you play it.
- Prefer forks with check: your opponent has no time to save the other piece.
Use a hint only after you have a candidate move. If you needed the solution, retry the puzzle later from memory; that is when the pattern sticks.
Frequently asked questions
What is a fork in chess?
A fork is a single move that attacks two or more enemy pieces at once. The opponent can usually save only one, so the other is lost.
Which piece forks most often?
The knight. In our fork lesson’s count of these puzzles, knights delivered 39% of forks and queens 36%.
How do I get better at spotting forks?
Solve fork puzzles in short daily sessions, then look for loose pieces and unguarded knight squares in your own games. Speed comes from repetition.
More puzzles
Pin puzzles · Mate in 3 puzzles · Skewer puzzles · Discovered attack puzzles · Sacrifice puzzles · Deflection puzzles · Mate in 2 · Hard puzzles · All 720 puzzles. Found a tactic in your own game? Check it on the analysis board.