Queen double attack
Use the queen’s reach to threaten two targets in one move and convert to material or mate.
Queen double attack
The queen’s range punishes loose coordination: one move can attack two targets (check + capture or two captures) that are hard to parry.
Double attack across both wings
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
- g5: Attacked pawn
- b6: Attacked knight
Typical targets
King + heavy piece, key pawn + mate threat, or loose piece + back-rank weakness.
- Check-based forks for tempo
- Bishop + queen batteries on diagonals
- Avoid giving counterplay squares to the queen
Defending
Cut diagonals and gain tempo on the queen to shrink its reach.
- Occupy the fork square
- Trade queens under fire
- Keep pieces defended
Common patterns
Check + weak pawn, check + loose piece, queen fork on two heavies.
- Check on king + attack on advanced pawn
- Diagonal + file fork with a centralized queen
- Queen forks in rook-and-pawn endgames
Training
Automate queen forks to save time in rapid/blitz.
- 10 queen double-attack puzzles daily
- Practice queen + bishop and queen + knight forks
- Check king escape squares before launching the fork