Pawn fork
A pawn fork is a pawn move that attacks two enemy pieces at once, one on each of the two diagonal squares ahead of the pawn, so only one of them can escape.
A pawn attacks the two squares diagonally in front of it. When enemy pieces stand on both of those squares, a single pawn move can attack them together. Because even a knight is worth more than a pawn, the pawn fork wins material almost every time, and the pawn is often safe because the forked pieces cannot hit it.
Pawn forks usually come from a push forward, and they work best when the pawn lands on a square that the targets do not control. Look at the pawn's new square before you push, and ask which enemy pieces cannot capture it. A pawn fork often hits two knights, two bishops or a bishop and a knight, because those are the pieces that tend to stand on neighboring diagonal squares.
To defend, watch for two of your pieces standing on the two squares an enemy pawn would attack after one step. Knights on d6 and f6 are exposed to a pawn on e4, which can step to e5. Avoid putting two pieces where one pawn move can attack them, or make sure you can take the pawn after it arrives.
In the diagram White to move plays e5. The pawn attacks the knights on d6 and f6 at once. Neither knight can take it, so Black can save only one, and White captures the other with the pawn.
A neighboring idea is Fork. A fork is a move that leaves one of your pieces threatening two enemy pieces together.
Compare it with Royal fork. A royal fork is a fork that attacks the enemy king and queen at the same time, most often with a knight, so the king must move and the queen is lost.
It sits close to Attraction. Attraction is a tactic that draws the enemy king or queen onto a square where it can be checked, forked or mated, usually by offering a piece that cannot safely be refused.
Knowing "Pawn fork" helps most once you can spot it in a real game. A first lesson with George Li starts from your own games and finds the tactics you keep missing.
Related terms
A fork is a move that leaves one of your pieces threatening two enemy pieces together. Because the opponent gets only one turn to respond, something usually falls.
A knight fork is a move that places a knight on a square from which it attacks two or more enemy pieces at once, so the opponent cannot save them all.
A royal fork is a fork that attacks the enemy king and queen at the same time, most often with a knight, so the king must move and the queen is lost.
A double attack is one move that creates two threats at once, whether they come from a single piece or from two, and whether they aim at pieces or at checkmate.
Guides that go further
What to decide first, the questions to ask, what a first lesson should show and the red flags to avoid.
How much does chess coaching cost?
Published rates for private, group and subscription chess coaching, with the source and the date of each.
A game review, a read on your level and a written study plan from George Li.
Want to spot this in your own games?
A first lesson starts with your games: George reviews them and builds a study plan around what he finds.