Tactic

What Is a Fork in Chess?

A fork is a single piece attacking two or more enemy pieces at the same time, so the opponent can only save one.

Definition

A fork is the most common winning tactic in chess. One piece attacks two or more targets simultaneously, and since the opponent can only answer one threat per move, you win material. Knights are the classic forkers because a knight's attack cannot be blocked — you either move the attacked piece or capture the knight. Queens, bishops, rooks, pawns and even kings can fork too.

Example

A white knight landing on c7 when Black's king sits on e8 and a rook on a8 attacks both at once. Black must answer the check, and the rook falls next move. This particular pattern — knight forking king and rook from c7 or f7 — is called a family fork when it also hits the queen.

How to spot it

  • Look for two undefended enemy pieces and ask which square attacks both.
  • Check every knight jump available to you, including the ones that look silly.
  • Forks that come with check are the strongest — the opponent has no time to counter.
  • Pawn forks are easy to miss: a pawn push can hit two pieces at once.

The mistake most players make

Playing a fork without checking whether the forking piece is defended. If your knight forks two pieces but can simply be captured, you have lost material, not won it.

Frequently asked questions

What is a fork in chess?

A fork is when one piece attacks two or more enemy pieces at the same time. Because the opponent can only deal with one threat per move, the attacker usually wins material. Knights are the most common forking piece because their attacks cannot be blocked.

Which piece is best at forking?

The knight, because you cannot block a knight's attack — the only answers are to move the attacked piece or capture the knight. Pawns are the second most dangerous forkers, since anything they attack is worth more than they are.

What is a family fork in chess?

A family fork is a knight fork that hits the king, queen and rook at once — often from c7 or f7 against an uncastled position. It is called that because it catches the whole royal family in one move.

Related terms

  • Pin — A pin is when a piece cannot move without exposing a more valuable piece behind it on the same line.
  • Skewer — A skewer attacks a valuable piece so that when it moves away, a less valuable piece behind it is captured.
  • Discovered attack — A discovered attack is when moving one piece unveils an attack from a long-range piece behind it.
  • Smothered mate — A smothered mate is checkmate by a knight against a king completely surrounded by its own pieces.

Practise this pattern

Definitions stick once you have seen the pattern in a real game. Solve tactics puzzles to train recognition, review one of your games to find where it came up, or ask the coach to explain it in a position you are looking at.