Learn How to Win with a Fork: Modern Defense Tactic
This middlegame puzzle shows how a single forcing check can create a tactical fork and win material in the Modern Defense. Black’s pieces are active, White’s king is slightly exposed, and one loose piece becomes the target of a direct attack. In classical chess, these positions often reward the side that spots checks first, especially when the opponent’s pieces are overloaded or poorly coordinated. The key idea is to use tempo to force the king into a worse square and then exploit the hanging piece.