What is Fork in chess?
One piece attacking two or more enemy pieces at the same time.
Knights are the classic forking piece because they can hit a king and a queen at once. The opponent can only save one, so you win the other.
Spot fork in your own games
Free. Chess2EZ finds the patterns you keep missing and explains each in plain English.
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- PinA piece can't move because doing so would expose a more valuable piece behind it.
- SkewerLike a pin in reverse: a valuable piece is attacked and must move, exposing a piece behind it.
- Discovered attackMoving one piece unveils an attack from another piece behind it.
- Double checkTwo pieces give check at the same time via a discovered attack.
- ZugzwangA position where any move you make worsens your position.
- En passantA special pawn capture of a pawn that just advanced two squares.