Lesson 5 of 20 · Tactics · 6 min

The Fork

The fork is the most common way to win material in shogi, and pieces in hand make it easy to set one up.

Spot single moves that attack two pieces at once.
Fork king and rook with a bishop drop, knight jump or gold drop.
Check that your forking piece cannot simply be captured.

A fork is one move that attacks two pieces at once. Your opponent can usually save only one, so you win the other. It is the most common way to gain material.

Knights are natural forkers: they hit two squares on the same rank at once, and their attack cannot be blocked. A knight fork of rook and gold is a classic.

🔒 2 more cards and 2 more practice positions continue in the app — this lesson is free there.

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Opponentno pieces in hand

You

Practice 1 of 1

Drop the bishop to check the king and attack the rook.

Remember: A fork attacks two targets with one move. Knights, golds and bishop drops are the usual forkers. A fork with check is the strongest—just make sure the forking piece is safe.