Fork in chess

The term fork in chess is used to define the attack of two or three pieces of your opponent at the same time. Generally this involves a check. However, the fork can also be attempted without involving the king.

Types of fork in chess

Knight Fork

The knight can be used to give check to king and attack another pice which is at the target squares. In the example of knight fork given below, the knight at d5 targets both king at f6 and queen at c3. This is also called grand fork if a king is attacked in the fork.

A knight fork can also be given without attacking the king as shown in the relative fork

Ganesh

Queen Fork

The queen can be used to attack two pieces at a time. This queen fork may attack a king or without attacking a king.

Black queen forks white bishop and white rook

In the queen fork attacking king , the black queen at c7 attacks king at a7 and knight at g3. Similarly, the white queen at d6 forks black rook at e7 and bishop at d3.

Bishop Fork

The bishop forks both king and rook and bishop forks rook and knight can be seen in the example below.

White Bishop forks black rook and black knight

In the first example of Bishop fork, the white bishop at f5 forks the black king at h7 and black rook at d3. In the next example of bishop fork, the white bishop at d7 forks the black rook at b5 and black knight at f5.

Rook fork

In the examples below about the rook forks king and queen, the white rook at d4 forks the black king at d7 and black queen at d1. Both the white rooks at fourth rank forms a battery in rank formation.

White rook forks black queen and black bishop

In another example of rook fork, the white rook at d5 forks the black queen at h5 and black bishop at d5. The white rooks form a battery in file position along the d file.

Pawn fork

Pawn fork is one of the strategies where the pawn attacks two of the opponents piece. Since pawn is the lowest in value among the pieces, the higher value piece gained would be an advantage. The pawn fork may involve king or does not involve king.

White pawn forks black rook and black bishop

In the first example of pawn fork , the white pawn at d5 forks the black king at e6 and black queen at c6 by giving a check. In the second example of pawn fork , the white pawn at c6 forks the black rook at d7 and black bishop at b7.

King Fork

The king can also be used to fork if the move does not make your own king to fall in check.

For example white king can fork both black rook at c3 and bishop bishop at d5. However, the white king can not fork both rook at c3 and bishop at c4, since the bishop at c4 is supported by the rook at c3. The king can capture the rook at c3.