Discovered check chess puzzles
20 discovered check puzzles from real games, ordered from easy to hard. Each has a hint and the full solution.
What is a discovered check in chess?
A discovered check is a discovered attack aimed at the king. Because the opponent must answer the check, the piece that moved can go almost anywhere, even capture a queen.
How to spot a discovered check
Look for your piece blocking a line between your long-range piece and the enemy king. Every move of that blocking piece is check, so find the one that also wins material.
Learn it first: Discovered attacks and double check
Discovered check chess puzzles
Puzzle 1: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 25... Qb5.
Puzzle rating 716
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, discovered check, double check
Show solution
26. Rd8#
FEN: 1r4k1/2p3pp/p7/1qPR1p2/b1Q1pP2/B3P3/P5PP/6K1 w - - 1 26
Puzzle 2: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 49... e4.
Puzzle rating 993
Hint
Theme: fork, discovered check, double check
Show solution
50. fxe4+ Ke6 51. exd5+
FEN: 8/8/8/3r1kpp/4pp2/5P2/4RKPP/8 w - - 0 50
Puzzle 3: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 41. Bg5.
Puzzle rating 1095
Hint
Show solution
41... Ne3+ 42. Kf2 Nxc4
FEN: q7/2p3bk/6p1/N1Pnp1B1/2Q3pP/6P1/3N2K1/8 b - - 1 41
Puzzle 4: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 24. Nxe5.
Puzzle rating 1169
Hint
Theme: fork, discovered attack, discovered check
Show solution
24... Rxg2+ 25. Kh1 Rxe2+
FEN: r5rk/pb3p2/1p2p3/4N3/3p4/4P3/PP2B1P1/R4RK1 b - - 0 24
Puzzle 5: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 41. h5.
Puzzle rating 1297
Hint
Show solution
41... Nc3+ 42. Kb2 Nd5+ 43. Kc2 Nxe7
FEN: 7b/1p2R3/p1k3B1/5p1P/4p3/PP6/K3nP2/8 b - - 0 41
Puzzle 6: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 23. Rxa8.
Puzzle rating 1473
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, fork, discovered check
Show solution
23... Nd2+ 24. Kc1 Qb1#
FEN: R4rk1/5pp1/1p5p/2p2q2/Q3nP1P/2b1B3/P5PR/1K3B2 b - - 0 23
Puzzle 7: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 30. Rh4.
Puzzle rating 1571
Hint
Show solution
30... exd4+ 31. Qf4 Qxf4+ 32. Kxf4 Rxe2
FEN: 4r1k1/pp4p1/3q3p/3pp1r1/3P2PR/P1P1QPK1/1P2R1P1/8 b - - 5 30
Puzzle 8: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 16. e5.
Puzzle rating 1693
Hint
Show solution
16... gxf3+ 17. Kf1 Ng4
FEN: 2kr2r1/ppp1bp2/2p2n1p/4P3/N2P2p1/1P3P2/PBP2P1P/R2R2K1 b - - 0 16
Puzzle 9: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 22. cxd5.
Puzzle rating 1785
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, discovered attack, discovered check
Show solution
22... Rxg2+ 23. Kh1 Rg4#
FEN: r2k2r1/pp5p/5p1n/1B1Pp3/1Q1p4/5b2/PP3PPP/R4RK1 b - - 0 22
Puzzle 10: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 34. Rg3.
Puzzle rating 1841
Hint
Show solution
34... Bxf2+ 35. Kxf2 Ne4+
FEN: 5r1k/pb1p1qp1/1b1P1n2/4B1Qp/7P/P1N3R1/1P3PP1/4R1K1 b - - 2 34
Puzzle 11: Black to move and mate in 4
Black to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 23. Rxg7.
Puzzle rating 1931
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, hook mate, discovered attack
Show solution
23... Rd1+ 24. Kg2 Ne1+ 25. Kf1 Nf3+ 26. Ke2 Re1#
FEN: 3r4/6R1/1R2Bp2/7k/4P1pN/P1r5/2n2P1P/2B3K1 b - - 0 23
Puzzle 12: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 48... Rd4+.
Puzzle rating 1970
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, discovered check, clearance
Show solution
49. Ke5 Rd2 50. d7+ Kg7 51. Rd6
FEN: 8/7p/1R1P3k/8/3r1Kp1/8/8/8 w - - 4 49
Puzzle 13: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 35. c7.
Puzzle rating 2078
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, discovered attack, discovered check
Show solution
35... Rg2+ 36. Kh1 Rxg3+ 37. Bxf3 Bxf3#
FEN: 6k1/QBP2pp1/7p/1P2P2b/8/5qP1/3r3P/4R1K1 b - - 0 35
Puzzle 14: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 29... Qd7.
Puzzle rating 2124
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, discovered check, middlegame tactic
Show solution
30. d6+ Kh8 31. Re7
FEN: r3r1k1/3q3p/p5pb/2pPRb2/p1B5/3P2Q1/1P4PP/4R1K1 w - - 1 30
Puzzle 15: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 14... g6.
Puzzle rating 2171
Hint
Theme: pin, discovered attack, discovered check
Show solution
15. Ng5+ Bxg5 16. Bxg5+ Kg8 17. Bxg6 fxg6 18. Qxg6+
FEN: rn1q1r2/1bp1bp1k/p3p1pB/3np2Q/Pp1PN3/3B4/1PP2PPP/R4RK1 w - - 0 15
Puzzle 16: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 15. h3.
Puzzle rating 2225
Hint
Theme: fork, discovered attack, discovered check
Show solution
15... Nf3+ 16. Kf1 Nxg5+ 17. Ke2 Qf2+ 18. Kd1 Qxg3
FEN: r4r2/pp4pp/1qpkb3/3pp1BQ/3n4/1BNP2NP/PPP3P1/R5KR b - - 0 15
Puzzle 17: White to move and mate in 4
White to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 18... Kh8.
Puzzle rating 2318
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, Pillsbury’s mate, discovered attack
Show solution
19. Bf5+ Rxh5 20. Rxh5+ Kg8 21. Bxe6+ Kf8 22. Rh8#
FEN: r2q3k/pbp3pB/1p2p3/3N2RQ/7r/8/PPP2bPP/R6K w - - 1 19
Puzzle 18: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 41. a4.
Puzzle rating 2404
Hint
Theme: skewer, discovered attack, discovered check
Show solution
41... Na8 42. Bg1 bxa4+ 43. Kxa4 Qxb2
FEN: 8/1qnk4/pB1p4/Qp1Pp1p1/PK2PpP1/5P2/1P6/8 b - - 0 41
Puzzle 19: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 32. Qd1.
Puzzle rating 2485
Hint
Show solution
32... Nxf3 33. Qxd7 Nxh4+
FEN: q5k1/p2r1p2/1p4p1/1Rb4p/2Pn1P1P/P3RNP1/4P1K1/3Q4 b - - 2 32
Puzzle 20: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 24... Be5.
Puzzle rating 2807
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, discovered check, middlegame tactic
Show solution
25. Nf3+ Kh7 26. Nxe5 Nxe5 27. Rg5
FEN: r4rk1/pppq1p2/2np4/3Bb1Np/4PQ1B/3P4/PPP4K/6R1 w - - 1 25