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One of the most important tactics to learn as a beginner in chess is the mighty fork. The fork is when one of your pieces attacks two of your opponent’s pieces simultaneously. This is potentially a forcing tactic to win material or a concession as your opponent can only move one piece per turn.

With our minds calculating positions in a linear and sequential fashion, it can sometimes be difficult to see a potential fork – to use against our opponent, or where one could be used against us. This can result in forks being unexpected traps.

I played a couple of games against another Australian player @Warlpiriman in a chess.com tournament, who is likely earlier in his chess journey. My opponent probably had a relative weakness in seeing forks and these couple of games are potentially instructive from a learning perspective.

Game 1 – I had the Black pieces and my opponent played the Italian Game. As usual, I responded with the Two Knights Defense, which then drew the game into the Four Knights Game, which I like with Black (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Nc3). The tactical logic is that White is likely aiming for a conservative and quiet game, but Black has the dynamite move with immediately opens the centre with (4… Nxe4)!

This results on the next move for Black the first fork of the game (5… d5), hitting White’s knight and bishop with a pawn. Not uncommonly, White is unable to navigate the immediate threat, and Black wins a good advantage in the opening [-1.5].

On move 9, White tries to raise the heat of the game by bringing out their queen, but this was a mistake. A risk if you’re not careful is that the queen is chased around, while the other player develops. In this game, White was forced to make three consecutive queen moves. This meant that I was substantially ahead on development.

After White castled short, I rotated my knight on the queenside through a series of steps to join the attack on White’s king. Knight moves are potentially difficult to visualise, and on move 14, White missed the second fork of the game (14… Ne2+), a killer royal fork of White’s king and queen!

Sooner after on move 14, the third fork of White’s rook pair with a bishop (16… Bxf3) inflicted fatal emotional damage with White resigning after the capture of one of the rooks. GG!

Game 2 – I had the White pieces and my opponent played the Czech Defense in the Pirc (1. e4 d6 2. d4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6). I am completely unfamiliar with the Pirc, other than knowing that general opening principles usually works out fine. And this was the case – on move 8 we entered the middlegame with an evaluation of [+0.5].

My opponent played quite well in this game, and I struggled to find an attack in the early middlegame. However, by move 16, I was able to operationalise my overall strategy. With Black having castled kingside, I needed to move my pieces to that side. One of my knights had a bit of an adventure chasing the Black queen on the other side of the board, but I had managed to rotate it back to the centre. Although Stockfish thought it was losing on evaluation, I thought (16. Qh3) and then (17. Bh6) ignoring material loss, was quite okay to set up an attack down the h-file.

And it worked! Big attacks are often difficult to evade, and Black blundered. First, I captured the fianchetto bishop guarding the Black king and naturally, the king captured back (18. Bxg7 Kxg7), but this was a mistake [+2.2]. Simply, this puts the king, queen, and rook in position for a family fork! Black managed to avoid that but fell into the first fork of the game (20. Nxh7+), and absolute fork of the king and rook. The effect is that the knight I gave away as a gambit a few moves earlier has now paid back with interest!

The second fork came a few moves later. It was another trap – a seemingly hanging pawn that was irresistible. Black’s king captured and then walked into an absolute fork with the queen of the king and knight.

So, on move 25, I had my rook pair and queen, versus Black’s rook and queen. The tactic is to simplify. I managed to force trade Black’s rook, and then their queen. And in an endgame where one player has an additional rook is simply a matter of routine. GG!

Game 1: https://www.chess.com/game/daily/481086871
Game 2: https://www.chess.com/game/daily/481086857

[Event "Cellar Dwellers 26 - Round 1"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.02.20"]
[Round "-"]
[White "Warlpiriman"]
[Black "vitualis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Tournament "https://www.chess.com/tournament/cellar-dwellers-26"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "C47"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Four-Knights-Game-Italian-Variation-4...Nxe4"]
[UTCDate "2023.02.20"]
[UTCTime "22:51:16"]
[WhiteElo "672"]
[BlackElo "1200"]
[TimeControl "1/259200"]
[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]
[StartTime "22:51:16"]
[EndDate "2023.02.22"]
[EndTime "21:01:14"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/daily/481086871"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/8595342.45b26bb1.50x50o.5792cc3e3af7.jpeg"]
[WhiteCountry "17"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.82046355.50x50o.c8c8e6b7296c.jpg"]
[BlackCountry "17"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 68:34:09]} 1... e5 {[%clk 71:57:08]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 71:57:25]} 2...
Nc6 {[%clk 71:54:25]} 3. Bc4 {[%clk 71:13:20]} 3... Nf6 {[%clk 72:00:00] Italian
Game: Two Knights Defense} 4. Nc3 {[%clk 71:57:41] Four Knights Game [0.00]}
4... Nxe4 {[%clk 70:26:43]} 5. Nxe4 {[%clk 71:41:30]} 5... d5 $1 {[%clk
72:00:00][%c_arrow
d5c4;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;c4;persistent;false,d5e4;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;e4;persistent;false,d8d5;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e4;persistent;false,c4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false][%c_effect
d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Fork #1} 6. Bxd5 $2 {[%clk
71:59:00][%c_arrow
c4d3;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;d3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false][%c_effect
d5;square;d5;type;Mistake;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true] This capture is
a mistake [-1.5]} 6... Qxd5 {[%clk 71:49:33]} 7. d3 {[%clk 71:54:15]} 7... Bf5
{[%clk 71:56:52]} 8. Nfd2 {[%clk 70:48:45]} 8... O-O-O {[%clk 71:47:44]} 9.
Qh5 $6 {[%clk 71:33:45][%c_effect
h5;square;h5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e1g1;keyPressed;none;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false] An inaccuracy as the
queen will get chased and Black gains tempo [-3.4]} 9... g6 {[%clk 71:57:28]}
10. Qh4 $2 {[%clk 71:51:56][%c_effect
h4;square;h4;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
h5d1;keyPressed;none;from;h5;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false] Another mistake
[-5.6]. The best move is for White to return the queen to d8.} 10... Be7 {[%clk
70:39:05]} 11. Qg3 $6 {[%clk 59:29:35][%c_effect
g3;square;g3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] The queen continues to be
harrassed [-7]} 11... Nb4 {[%clk 67:41:26]} 12. O-O {[%clk 71:42:21]} 12... Nxc2
{[%clk 71:57:27]} 13. Rb1 {[%clk 71:36:58]} 13... Nd4 {[%clk 71:54:50]} 14. b3 $2
{[%clk 69:46:54][%c_effect b3;square;b3;type;Mistake;persistent;true] White
misses a devastating royal fork [-12]} 14... Ne2+ $1 {[%clk 71:33:15][%c_highlight
e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false,g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false,g3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g3;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e2g1;keyPressed;none;from;e2;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false,e2g3;keyPressed;none;from;e2;opacity;0.8;to;g3;persistent;false][%c_effect
e2;square;e2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Fork #2} 15. Kh1 {[%clk 56:52:52]}
15... Nxg3+ {[%clk 72:00:00]} 16. Nxg3 {[%clk 71:59:49]} 16... Bxd3 {[%clk
71:54:15][%c_highlight
d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false,f1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f1;persistent;false,b1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b1;persistent;false][%c_arrow
d3f1;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;f1;persistent;false,d3b1;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;b1;persistent;false]
Fork #3} 17. Bb2 {[%clk 71:42:53]} 17... Bxb1 {[%clk 71:57:51][%c_effect
c8;square;c8;type;Winner,h1;square;h1;type;ResignWhite] White resigns [-13]} 0-1


[Event "Cellar Dwellers 26 - Round 1"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.02.20"]
[Round "-"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "Warlpiriman"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Tournament "https://www.chess.com/tournament/cellar-dwellers-26"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "B06"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Modern-Defense-Standard-Line...6.e5-dxe5-7.Nxe5-O-O-8.O-O"]
[UTCDate "2023.02.20"]
[UTCTime "22:51:16"]
[WhiteElo "1203"]
[BlackElo "641"]
[TimeControl "1/259200"]
[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]
[StartTime "22:51:16"]
[EndDate "2023.02.25"]
[EndTime "06:30:17"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/daily/481086857"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.82046355.50x50o.c8c8e6b7296c.jpg"]
[WhiteCountry "17"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/8595342.45b26bb1.50x50o.5792cc3e3af7.jpeg"]
[BlackCountry "17"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 71:52:25]} 1... d6 {[%clk 68:42:17]} 2. d4 {[%clk 71:56:43]} 2...
c6 {[%clk 71:57:46]} 3. Nc3 {[%clk 71:59:33]} 3... Nf6 {[%clk 71:08:23] Pirc
Defense: Czech Defense} 4. Nf3 {[%clk 70:24:01]} 4... g6 {[%clk 71:42:44]} 5. e5
{[%clk 71:58:21]} 5... dxe5 {[%clk 71:58:53]} 6. Nxe5 {[%clk 71:49:32]} 6... Bg7
{[%clk 71:54:13]} 7. Bc4 {[%clk 71:56:56]} 7... O-O {[%clk 70:48:26]} 8. O-O
{[%clk 71:49:04] [+0.5]} 8... Bf5 {[%clk 71:33:34]} 9. Bd3 $2 {[%clk
71:55:38][%c_effect d3;square;d3;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g2g4;keyPressed;none;from;g2;opacity;0.8;to;g4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g4;persistent;false] This was a mistake
[-1.6] as I hung my d4 pawn} 9... Bxd3 $2 {[%clk 71:52:35][%c_effect
d3;square;d3;type;Mistake;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true] Black took the
bait and we're back to equality [0.00]} 10. Qxd3 {[%clk 70:40:29]} 10... Qb6
{[%clk 59:29:23]} 11. Na4 {[%clk 67:41:53]} 11... Qc7 {[%clk 71:42:06]} 12. Bf4
{[%clk 71:57:00]} 12... Qd8 {[%clk 71:35:51]} 13. Nc5 {[%clk 71:54:58]} 13...
Nd5 $6 {[%clk 69:47:03][%c_effect
d5;square;d5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b8d7;keyPressed;none;from;b8;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false] A relative inaccuracy
[+0.84]} 14. Bd2 $6 {[%clk 71:35:45][%c_effect
d2;square;d2;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_highlight
g3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g3;persistent;false][%c_arrow
f4g3;keyPressed;none;from;f4;opacity;0.8;to;g3;persistent;false] Not the most
accurate [0.00]} 14... b6 {[%clk 71:58:05]} 15. Ne4 {[%clk 71:58:45]} 15...
Nd7 $6 {[%clk 56:53:33][%c_effect
d7;square;d7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c6c5;keyPressed;none;from;c6;opacity;0.8;to;c5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false] [+1.2]} 16. Qh3 $2
{[%clk 71:54:48][%c_effect h3;square;h3;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e5c6;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;c6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c6;persistent;false] My tactic here was to
set up a big attack against Black's king. Stockfish doesn't think this works
with ideal play [-1.7]} 16... Nxe5 {[%clk 71:43:01]} 17. Bh6 {[%clk
71:56:26][%c_arrow
d4e5;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false] Stockfish really
doesn't believe in this audacious aggressive move [-5.4]} 17... f5 $4 {[%clk
66:48:08][%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d8d7;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false] But as we'll see,
it'll work $1 [-0.2]} 18. Bxg7 $1 {[%clk 67:27:24][%c_effect
g7;square;g7;type;GreatFind;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true]} 18... Kxg7 $2
{[%clk 57:58:21][%c_arrow
d5f4;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;f4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false][%c_effect
g7;square;g7;type;Mistake;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true] This is a
mistake [+2.2] as an impending fork is coming $1} 19. Ng5 $1 {[%clk 71:58:21][%c_effect
g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g5e6;keyPressed;none;from;g5;opacity;0.8;to;e6;persistent;false,e6d8;keyPressed;none;from;e6;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false,e6f8;keyPressed;none;from;e6;opacity;0.8;to;f8;persistent;false,e6g7;keyPressed;none;from;e6;opacity;0.8;to;g7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g7;persistent;false,f8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f8;persistent;false,d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false]
Black needs respond to this impending family fork $1} 19... Kf6 $2 {[%clk
71:11:14][%c_effect f6;square;f6;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e5f3;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;f3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false] The king defends the
e6 square, but there is another fork $1 [+4.6]} 20. Nxh7+ {[%clk
71:58:22][%c_highlight
h7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h7;persistent;false,f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false,f8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f8;persistent;false][%c_arrow
h7f8;keyPressed;none;from;h7;opacity;0.8;to;f8;persistent;false,h7f6;keyPressed;none;from;h7;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false]
Fork #1} 20... Ke6 $2 {[%clk 71:59:45][%c_effect
e6;square;e6;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f6g7;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;g7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g7;persistent;false] Moving the king into
the centre of the board was a mistake [+7.4]} 21. Nxf8+ {[%clk 71:59:48]} 21...
Qxf8 {[%clk 71:59:40]} 22. dxe5 $6 {[%clk 71:59:47][%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
a1e1;keyPressed;none;from;a1;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false] Not the most accurate
as a pin first is better according to Stockfish [+5.2]. However, I chose
simplicity in this case.} 22... Nf4 $6 {[%clk 71:59:12][%c_effect
f4;square;f4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f8h8;keyPressed;none;from;f8;opacity;0.8;to;h8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h8;persistent;false] An inaccuracy [+7.2]}
23. Qb3+ {[%clk 71:51:56] I saw a trap as the pawn seems irresistible...} 23...
Kxe5 $2 {[%clk 68:58:22][%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] And
Black loses their knight [+9]} 24. Qe3+ {[%clk 71:55:12][%c_arrow
e3e5;keyPressed;none;from;e3;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false,e3f4;keyPressed;none;from;e3;opacity;0.8;to;f4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e3;persistent;false,f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false,e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false]
Fork #2} 24... Kf6 {[%clk 68:54:28]} 25. Qxf4 {[%clk 70:55:18]} 25... Rd8 {[%clk
71:46:17]} 26. Qc7 {[%clk 71:56:50]} 26... Rd2 {[%clk 70:46:19]} 27. Qxc6+
{[%clk 71:55:58]} 27... Kf7 {[%clk 57:22:26]} 28. Qc4+ {[%clk 71:58:37]} 28...
Ke8 {[%clk 71:55:02]} 29. Rad1 {[%clk 71:59:19] Rook trade is forced [+12]}
29... Rxd1 {[%clk 70:56:08]} 30. Rxd1 {[%clk 71:58:42]} 30... Qf6 {[%clk
71:59:30]} 31. Qd4 {[%clk 71:58:46]} 31... Qe6 {[%clk 68:02:27]} 32. Qd8+ {[%clk
71:58:29]} 32... Kf7 {[%clk 71:57:00]} 33. Qd5 {[%clk 72:00:00] Queen trade is
forced and I'm in a completely winning endgame up a rook} 33... Qxd5 {[%clk
71:59:48]} 34. Rxd5 {[%clk 72:00:00]} 34... Ke6 {[%clk 71:59:53]} 35. c4 {[%clk
71:59:29]} 35... g5 {[%clk 71:59:17]} 36. h3 {[%clk 71:59:38]} 36... a5 {[%clk
68:44:44]} 37. Rb5 {[%clk 71:17:54][%c_effect
g1;square;g1;type;Winner,e6;square;e6;type;ResignBlack] Black resigns from the
unwinnable endgame} 1-0