Fork
One piece attacks two or more enemies at the same time, forcing a material gain.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Professor Archer says: When I first encountered the fork as a new chess player at forty, it reminded me of a classroom dilemma I often posed to my university students: if two fires break out simultaneously, which one do you fight first? The answer, of course, is that you cannot fight both. That is exactly why the fork is so devastating. Your opponent faces an impossible choice, and you profit from whichever piece they abandon.
What Is a Fork?
A fork is one of the most fundamental tactical patterns in chess, and it is beautifully simple in concept: one of your pieces attacks two or more enemy pieces at the same time. Since your opponent can only move one piece per turn, they are forced to save one and lose the other. The result is almost always a material advantage for the side delivering the fork.
Every piece on the chessboard can deliver a fork. Pawns fork by advancing to a square where they attack two pieces diagonally. Knights are the most famous forking pieces because their unique L-shaped movement allows them to attack pieces that cannot attack them back. Bishops fork along diagonals, rooks fork along ranks and files, and the queen — with her combined powers — can fork in almost any direction.
The reason forks are so effective is rooted in a basic rule of chess: you get only one move per turn. When two of your pieces are under simultaneous attack, you can save one but not both. Even the strongest players in the world lose material to well-timed forks. The key is learning to spot the opportunities before they vanish.
A Classic Knight Fork
The knight is the undisputed champion of the fork. Its L-shaped movement means it can attack pieces on squares of one color while sitting on a square of the opposite color. This makes knight forks especially difficult to see coming, because the attacked pieces often feel safe on their current squares.
Consider a position where a knight lands on a central square and simultaneously attacks an enemy queen and rook. The opponent must move the queen (the more valuable piece), and the knight captures the rook for free. This is the essence of a knight fork — using the knight's unique geometry to threaten two targets that cannot both escape.
In the position shown, White's centralized knight demonstrates the principle. A knight in the center of the board controls up to eight squares, giving it maximum forking potential. This is one reason why chess teachers constantly emphasize piece centralization — a knight on the rim has only limited reach, but a knight in the center is a forking machine.
When calculating forks, always look at where your knight could land in one or two moves. The best forks often require a preparatory move to set up the geometry.
White's knight on d4 sits in the center with enormous influence. Knights in the center create constant forking threats.
Forks with Every Piece
While the knight gets most of the glory, every piece in chess can execute a fork, and recognizing these opportunities is essential for tactical awareness.
Pawn forks happen when a pawn advances to attack two pieces diagonally. These are common in the opening and middlegame, particularly when your opponent carelessly places pieces on adjacent files. A well-timed pawn push can fork a bishop and a knight, or even a rook and a bishop, winning significant material for the cost of a single pawn move.
Bishop forks occur along diagonals. A bishop that slides to a square attacking both a rook and a knight on the same diagonal is delivering a fork. These tend to be longer-range, exploiting the bishop's ability to control an entire diagonal.
Rook forks happen along ranks or files. If your opponent's king and a loose piece are on the same rank or file, a rook can fork them both. Queen forks are the most versatile of all, since the queen combines the movement of both the rook and bishop. However, because the queen is so valuable, you must be careful that the fork does not place her in danger.
Even the king can deliver a fork in the endgame, when it becomes an active fighting piece. A centralized king can attack two pawns simultaneously, which is a common endgame technique.
Frequently Asked Questions About Forks
Which piece is best at forking?
The knight is considered the best forking piece because it moves in an L-shape and can attack pieces that cannot attack it back. However, every piece can deliver forks. The queen creates the most forking possibilities due to her range, but she is also the most valuable piece, so queen forks carry more risk.
Can you prevent a fork?
Yes. The best prevention is awareness. Before making any move, ask whether your opponent could fork two of your pieces on the next turn. Avoid placing two undefended pieces on squares that a single enemy piece could reach. Keeping your pieces defended and avoiding patterns where they line up on forking squares is key.
What is a royal fork?
A royal fork is a fork that attacks both the king and the queen simultaneously. This is one of the most devastating tactics in chess because the opponent must move the king (since it is in check), and the forking piece captures the queen. Knights are the most common deliverers of royal forks.
Is a fork the same as a double attack?
A fork is a specific type of double attack where one piece attacks two targets. The term double attack is broader and can include situations where two different pieces each attack a target. In casual conversation, the terms are often used interchangeably, but technically a fork involves a single attacker.
Professor Archer says: My advice to every student learning forks: after each of your opponent's moves, ask yourself one simple question — "Did that move leave two pieces on squares where one of my pieces could attack them both?" Train yourself to ask this automatically, and you will start finding forks you never noticed before. It is a habit that pays dividends for a lifetime of chess.
Quick Quiz
A knight jumps to a square where it attacks both the enemy king and queen. What must your opponent do?
- Move the queen to safety - When the king is in check, the king must be addressed first. Moving the queen without resolving the check is an illegal move.
- Move the king, losing the queen (Correct) - Correct. When a knight forks the king and queen, the king is in check and must move. Since knights cannot be blocked, the queen is lost. This is called a royal fork.
- Block the check with another piece - Knight checks cannot be blocked because knights jump over pieces. The only options are to move the king or capture the knight.
- Ignore the check and counterattack - You can never ignore a check in chess. The check must be resolved before any other move can be made.