Tactical Motifs
Fork
Also known as:double attack
Definition
A fork is a tactic where one piece attacks two or more opponent piece targets simultaneously in a single move. The opponent can only save one, so the executing player wins material. The knight is most famous for knight fork due to its asymmetric move pattern.
Usage and Example
Classic example: knight fork on c7 attacks the king on e8 and rook on a8 at once. If the king is in check, the opponent must move the king, and the knight captures the rook.
Grandmaster Tier Context
T1 Beginner (introduced) through T3 Competitive Local (mastered). Fork tactical puzzles appear most often in training across all tiers. Grandmaster coaches drill 20-30 fork puzzles per week for T1-T2.