Learn How to Win a Fork: Modern Defense Tactic
This Modern Defense puzzle is a classic example of how tactical motifs can outweigh static material. White has space, an active bishop, and pressure on weak squares, but Black’s king placement creates a decisive tactical target. The key idea is to use a forcing check to drag the defender into an awkward response, then exploit the resulting alignment of pieces. In practical chess, these positions often reward initiative over material and show why king safety matters so much in the opening and middlegame.