Forks: one move, two threats
A fork is a single move that attacks two (or more) enemy targets at once. Your opponent can only answer one threat, so you collect the other. It is the most common winning tactic at club level.
Why knights fork so well
A knight's jump can't be blocked, and it attacks squares of the opposite colour to the one it stands on. That makes knight forks hard to see coming — especially the "family fork" that hits king, queen and rook together.
How to spot a fork
- Look for loose pieces. Undefended pieces and the king are the usual targets.
- Count squares, not pieces. Ask "which square attacks both?" then check whether you can reach it — often with check.
- Use a forcing move first. A check or capture can drag a piece onto a forkable square.
Queen and pawn forks
The queen forks along lines and diagonals at once; a cheap pawn fork of two pieces is often the most crushing of all, because any piece is worth more than the pawn.