How to Spot and Execute Winning Forks
From Good to Great: Pro-Level Tips
The Knight is King
While any piece can technically deliver a fork, the knight is the undisputed king. Its unique L-shaped movement allows it to attack pieces without being attacked in return, making it the perfect forking weapon.
Look for Same-Colored Squares
A helpful trick for spotting knight forks is to look for valuable enemy pieces that are sitting on squares of the same color (e.g., two black pieces on dark squares). Since a knight always moves from a light square to a dark square (or vice-versa), this is often a geometric clue that a fork is possible.
A Move That Made History: Fischer vs. Reshevsky, 1958
In this famous game, the young Bobby Fischer demonstrates the power of a simple knight fork against a world-class opponent. The move 9. Na4! simultaneously attacks the black queen on b6 and the bishop on c5. This simple double attack forces Black to make a concession and gives White a clear advantage, which Fischer expertly converted. It shows that even the most basic tactics are effective at the highest levels.
The Winning Combination: 8. O-O O-O 9. Na4!