Defensive move chess puzzles
20 defensive move puzzles from real games, ordered from easy to hard. Each has a hint and the full solution.
What is a defensive move in chess?
In defensive puzzles you are under attack and must find the only move that holds the position or saves material.
How to spot a defensive move
First list everything the opponent is threatening. Then look for a move that meets all threats at once, often a counter-check or a move that defends with tempo.
Learn it first: Quiet moves and defensive moves · A full thinking routine · Prophylaxis: what does my opponent want? · The art of defence · Tournament psychology · Decision-making in critical positions · Calculation under pressure · Finding the opponent’s resources
Defensive move chess puzzles
Puzzle 1: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 31... h5.
Puzzle rating 708
Hint
Theme: defensive move, pawn endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
32. gxh5 Kh6 33. g4
FEN: 8/pp3pk1/5p2/5P1p/6P1/8/PP4P1/6K1 w - - 0 32
Puzzle 2: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 47. Kh5.
Puzzle rating 1121
Hint
Theme: defensive move, zugzwang, pawn endgame
Show solution
47... Kf5 48. g4+ Kf4
FEN: 8/8/5k2/p3p1pK/P1p5/2P2PP1/8/8 b - - 1 47
Puzzle 3: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 35... Qxe3+.
Puzzle rating 1206
Hint
Theme: defensive move, endgame tactic
Show solution
36. Bc3 Qxc3+ 37. Kxc3
FEN: 2b3k1/pp2Q1pp/2p1p3/P4p2/1B2pP2/1K2q1P1/7P/8 w - - 0 36
Puzzle 4: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 21. Ne7+.
Puzzle rating 1384
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, discovered check, sacrifice
Show solution
21... Kb7 22. Nxf5 Bxb2+
FEN: 2kr4/p1p1N2p/8/5b2/2Pb4/8/PP3PPP/R2K4 b - - 2 21
Puzzle 5: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 48... Kd5+.
Puzzle rating 1495
Hint
Theme: defensive move, advanced pawn, endgame tactic
Show solution
49. Kb5 Rf4 50. a7 Rf8 51. Nb8
FEN: 8/8/P1N4p/3k2p1/1K4r1/8/8/8 w - - 1 49
Puzzle 6: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 30. Qc8+.
Puzzle rating 1638
Hint
Theme: defensive move, endgame tactic
Show solution
30... Bf8 31. c5 Qxc5
FEN: 2Q3k1/6p1/pqp4p/1pb1P3/2P2P2/1P6/PB3r1P/1R4K1 b - - 5 30
Puzzle 7: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 45. Qd4+.
Puzzle rating 1720
Hint
Theme: defensive move, promotion, advanced pawn
Show solution
45... Rf6 46. d8=Q Rxd8 47. Qxd8 f1=Q
FEN: 1r6/1p1P1rk1/7p/p7/P2Q4/2P4P/1P3p1K/8 b - - 9 45
Puzzle 8: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 42... Kg8.
Puzzle rating 1796
Hint
Theme: defensive move, advanced pawn, pawn endgame
Show solution
43. Kc6 h3 44. e7 Kf7 45. Kd7
FEN: 6k1/6p1/4P3/1K6/7p/3P4/8/8 w - - 1 43
Puzzle 9: Black to move and win
Puzzle 10: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 21. Qxb7.
Puzzle rating 1954
Hint
Theme: intermezzo (zwischenzug), defensive move, middlegame tactic
Show solution
21... Qxe1+ 22. Nxe1 Bxb7 23. Rc7 Ba6
FEN: 2b1k2r/1Q1n1ppp/4p3/p3P3/8/2q2N2/P4PPP/2R1R1K1 b k - 0 21
Puzzle 11: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 51. Nxh6.
Puzzle rating 2064
Hint
Theme: defensive move, advanced pawn, knight endgame
Show solution
51... c3 52. Nf7+ Kf6 53. Nxg5 c2
FEN: 8/8/7N/4k1pP/2p3K1/8/8/8 b - - 0 51
Puzzle 12: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 40. Rd2.
Puzzle rating 2082
Hint
Theme: defensive move, rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
40... Rxd2 41. Kxd2 Ke6 42. Kc3 Kd5
FEN: 8/6p1/5k2/pp3p2/5P1p/1P2K2P/P2R2P1/3r4 b - - 5 40
Puzzle 13: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 20... Qh4+.
Puzzle rating 2188
Hint
Theme: clearance, defensive move, middlegame tactic
Show solution
21. Kg2 Rab8 22. Rh1 Qxh1+ 23. Kxh1
FEN: r3r1k1/1b2bppp/p2p1P2/3p2P1/7q/3B1Q2/PPP5/R1B2R1K w - - 6 21
Puzzle 14: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 40... a5.
Puzzle rating 2246
Hint
Theme: quiet move, defensive move, pawn endgame
Show solution
41. b4 axb4 42. a5 b3 43. Kd3
FEN: 8/7p/2p1k1p1/p3P3/P3K3/1P4P1/8/8 w - - 0 41
Puzzle 15: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 48... a3.
Puzzle rating 2322
Hint
Theme: quiet move, defensive move, knight endgame
Show solution
49. Nb5+ Ke5 50. Nxa3 f3 51. Nb1 f2 52. Nd2
FEN: 8/8/3k1p2/3P1p2/2KN1p2/p7/8/8 w - - 0 49
Puzzle 16: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 30... Qd5.
Puzzle rating 2370
Hint
Theme: defensive move, endgame tactic
Show solution
31. Qxd5 cxd5 32. Rb1
FEN: 2k1r2r/3p3p/2pB2p1/p2q4/3Q4/8/5PPP/5RK1 w - - 1 31
Puzzle 17: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 38. Nxg5.
Puzzle rating 2428
Hint
Theme: quiet move, defensive move, knight endgame
Show solution
38... a4 39. Ne4+ Kb4 40. h4 a3
FEN: 8/8/8/p1k3N1/8/7P/5PP1/6K1 b - - 0 38
Puzzle 18: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 46. Nc5+.
Puzzle rating 2450
Hint
Theme: defensive move, knight endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
46... Kb4 47. Nd7 Kxa4 48. Ne5 g5
FEN: 8/8/6pp/p1N5/P7/1k3K2/8/8 b - - 2 46
Puzzle 19: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 40... Qh3+.
Puzzle rating 2558
Hint
Theme: defensive move, promotion, exposed king
Show solution
41. Nf3 exf4+ 42. Nxf4 Qxg4 43. Nxg5 Bxd5 44. c8=Q+ Qxc8 45. Bxc8
FEN: 4k3/2P2b2/Bp1p4/3Pp1b1/5PP1/4K2q/3NN3/8 w - - 1 41
Puzzle 20: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 44... Kxe4.
Puzzle rating 2740
Hint
Theme: quiet move, defensive move, rook endgame
Show solution
45. Rxe3+ Kxe3 46. h4 Kf4 47. Kc2 Kg4 48. Kd3
FEN: 8/8/1p2p3/pP6/4k3/3Rr3/1P5P/1K6 w - - 0 45