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Knight forks

The jumping knight attacks two pieces at once. See the forks Gukesh, Anand, Divya and other stars played.

Beginner · Tactics · 20 steps. On Chess Castles, Chess Guru reads each step aloud in English, Hindi or Marathi while the moves play on the board, and you can practise any position against the engine. With games of Gukesh D, Viswanathan Anand, Divya Deshmukh, Praggnanandhaa R, Humpy Koneru, Arjun Erigaisi.

Step 1

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The position

A fork is one piece attacking two pieces at the same time. The opponent can save only one of them, so you win the other. The knight is the best forker: it jumps in an L shape and attacks up to eight squares.

Step 2

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The position

The best forks hit the king and a big piece, like the queen or a rook. The king must escape the check, and the big piece falls. This is called a royal fork.

Step 3

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The position

A Valsecchi vs Gukesh D, 54th Biel Master Open 2021. Gukesh from Chennai became the youngest undisputed World Champion in 2024, at just 18. Gukesh D plays Black here. Look at the knight on f5: what can it do?

Step 4

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The position before the moves

Moves: 36...Ng3+

Gukesh D jumps the knight from f5 to g3. It attacks the queen on e4. It gives check.

Step 5

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The position before the moves

Moves: 36...Ng3+ 37.Kf3 Nxe4 38.Rd1 Qxd1+ 39.Rxd1 Nd2+

The moves: 36...Ng3+ 37.Kf3 Nxe4 38.Rd1 Qxd1+ 39.Rxd1 Nd2+. At the end of the line, Gukesh D has won the queen. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

Step 6

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The position

Viswanathan Anand vs Sergey Karjakin, 8. Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow 2013. Viswanathan Anand became India's first grandmaster in 1988 and was World Champion five times. Viswanathan Anand plays White here. Look at the knight on e4: what can it do?

Step 7

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The position before the moves

Moves: 38.Nc5

Viswanathan Anand jumps the knight from e4 to c5. The knight on c5 attacks both rooks at the same time: a fork!

From the game Viswanathan Anand – Sergey Karjakin, 8. Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow 2013.

Step 8

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The position before the moves

Moves: 38.Nc5 Kf7 39.Nxd3 Rxd3 40.c5 Ke8 41.Ra1

The moves: 38.Nc5 Kf7 39.Nxd3 Rxd3 40.c5 Ke8 41.Ra1. At the end of the line, Viswanathan Anand has won the rook. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

From the game Viswanathan Anand – Sergey Karjakin, 8. Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow 2013.

Step 9

♟︎♟︎♟︎♚︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♝︎♟︎♜︎♚︎♞︎♟︎♜︎
The position

R Kulkarni vs Divya Deshmukh, 33rd Leon Blitz Open 2020. Divya Deshmukh from Nagpur won the FIDE Women's World Cup in 2025, at 19, and became a grandmaster. Divya Deshmukh plays Black here. Look at the knight on c7: what can it do?

Step 10

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The position before the moves

Moves: 45...Nxd5+

Divya Deshmukh jumps the knight from c7 to d5. It captures the bishop on d5. It attacks the rook on b6. It gives check.

Step 11

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The position before the moves

Moves: 45...Nxd5+ 46.Kd3 Nxb6 47.f4 exf4 48.Ke2 Nd5

The moves: 45...Nxd5+ 46.Kd3 Nxb6 47.f4 exf4 48.Ke2 Nd5. At the end of the line, Divya Deshmukh has won the rook. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

Step 12

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The position

Sergey Karjakin vs Praggnanandhaa R, Tata Steel India Blitz, Kolkata 2018. Praggnanandhaa from Chennai became a grandmaster at 12 and reached the World Cup final in 2023. Praggnanandhaa R plays Black here. Look at the knight on d4: what can it do?

Step 13

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The position before the moves

Moves: 42...Nc2+

Praggnanandhaa R jumps the knight from d4 to c2. It attacks the rook on e3. It gives check.

Step 14

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The position before the moves

Moves: 42...Nc2+ 43.Kf2 Nxe3 44.Kxe3 Ra2 45.g3 Rxa5

The moves: 42...Nc2+ 43.Kf2 Nxe3 44.Kxe3 Ra2 45.g3 Rxa5. At the end of the line, Praggnanandhaa R has won the rook. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

Step 15

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The position

Humpy Koneru vs O Girya, World Rapid Women 2019, Moscow. Humpy Koneru is one of India's greatest players and twice Women's World Rapid Champion. Humpy Koneru plays White here. Look at the knight on d7: what can it do?

Step 16

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The position before the moves

Moves: 39.Nxf6+

Humpy Koneru jumps the knight from d7 to f6. It captures the pawn on f6. It attacks the rook on e8. It gives check.

From the game Humpy Koneru – O Girya, World Rapid Women 2019, Moscow .

Step 17

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The position before the moves

Moves: 39.Nxf6+ Kh8 40.Bxc8 Rxc8 41.Nxe4 Ne6 42.Qxd5

The moves: 39.Nxf6+ Kh8 40.Bxc8 Rxc8 41.Nxe4 Ne6 42.Qxd5. At the end of the line, Humpy Koneru has won the queen. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

From the game Humpy Koneru – O Girya, World Rapid Women 2019, Moscow .

Step 18

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The position

Toni Lazov vs Arjun Erigaisi, Serbia Chess Open 2021, Belgrade. Arjun Erigaisi from Warangal became only the second Indian, after Anand, to cross a 2800 rating. Arjun Erigaisi plays Black here. Look at the knight on c2: what can it do?

Step 19

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The position before the moves

Moves: 26...Ne3+

Arjun Erigaisi jumps the knight from c2 to e3. It attacks the rook on f1. It gives check.

Step 20

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The position before the moves

Moves: 26...Ne3+ 27.Kg3 Nxf1+ 28.Rxf1 Rd8 29.Rd1 Rd4

The moves: 26...Ne3+ 27.Kg3 Nxf1+ 28.Rxf1 Rd8 29.Rd1 Rd4. At the end of the line, Arjun Erigaisi has won the rook. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

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