Fork: a practical example
A knight on e5 attacks c4, c6, d3, d7, f3, f7, g4, and g6. If an opposing king and rook occupy two of those squares, the knight may create a forcing double attack. The tactic still depends on the knight being able to arrive safely.
How to use the idea in your games
Look for loose pieces and pairs of valuable targets. Before playing a fork, check whether the attacker can be captured or whether the opponent has a stronger forcing reply.
A useful study question
Can you explain fork in your own words, identify it in a position, and describe when the idea does not apply? Test the explanation on a legal board before relying on it.
Connect the ideas
Knight, Tactics, Zwischenzug are useful next concepts. Follow the links to compare definitions and examples, then return to the complete chess glossary whenever an unfamiliar term appears.
Sources & further reading
References checked September 5, 2026. Linked services are independent of ChessRankings.com™.