Fork Tactics

A fork is a tactic where a single piece attacks two or more of the opponent's pieces simultaneously. This forces the opponent to choose which piece to save, often resulting in material gain.

Types of Forks

Knight Forks

Knights are particularly effective at forking because of their unique L-shaped movement pattern. They can attack pieces that are not on the same rank, file, or diagonal.

Pawn Forks

Pawns can fork pieces on adjacent diagonals. While less powerful than knight forks, pawn forks can be devastating when they attack valuable pieces.

Queen Forks

The queen, being the most powerful piece, can create forks along ranks, files, and diagonals simultaneously.

Practice Tips

1. Look for undefended pieces
2. Calculate if your forking piece is safe
3. Consider the opponent's defensive resources
4. Practice recognizing fork patterns

Remember: A fork is only effective if the attacking piece is protected or if the value of the pieces being attacked exceeds the value of the forking piece.

Related tactics: double-attack, skewer-tactics, pin-tactics