Middlegame tactic chess puzzles
20 middlegame tactic puzzles from real games, ordered from easy to hard. Each has a hint and the full solution.
What is a middlegame tactic in chess?
Middlegame puzzles are combinations from the heart of the game, with many pieces still on the board: attacks on the king and tactics that win material.
How to spot a middlegame tactic
Check every check, capture and threat, for both sides, every move. Most middlegame tactics start from a loose piece or an exposed king.
Middlegame tactic chess puzzles
Puzzle 1: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 13... exd5.
Puzzle rating 566
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Pillsbury’s mate, kingside attack
Show solution
14. Qxe8+ Nxe8 15. Rxe8#
FEN: rnb1r1k1/1pq2pp1/p1p2n1p/3p4/3P4/2PB1N2/PP1NQPPP/R3R1K1 w - - 0 14
Puzzle 2: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 16... Nxh7.
Puzzle rating 733
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, middlegame tactic
Show solution
17. Qe7#
FEN: r1b3r1/ppqk2pn/2p1p3/3p2Q1/P7/B1P5/5PPP/RN3RK1 w - - 0 17
Puzzle 3: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 29... Nf7.
Puzzle rating 916
Hint
Theme: fork, middlegame tactic
Show solution
30. Nxf7+ Qxf7 31. Qxf7 Rxf7 32. Rxd8+
FEN: 3r1r1k/5np1/pp1N2qp/2pQ1p2/5P2/2P5/PP4PP/3RR1K1 w - - 1 30
Puzzle 4: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 20... Rxh6.
Puzzle rating 1067
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
21. Qf7+ Kh8 22. Qe8#
FEN: r1b3k1/p5p1/1p2p1Br/3q4/4nQ2/2P5/PP2KbPP/R6R w - - 0 21
Puzzle 5: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 23... Qxb2.
Puzzle rating 1208
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, hook mate, Opera mate
Show solution
24. Qxh6+ gxh6 25. Rxh6+ Kg7 26. Rh7#
FEN: r4r1k/1b3pp1/1p2pN1p/p3P2Q/3p1PP1/3Bn2R/Pq5P/R5K1 w - - 0 24
Puzzle 6: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 22. Nb3.
Puzzle rating 1294
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Opera mate, kingside attack
Show solution
22... Rd1+ 23. Rf1 Rxf1#
FEN: 5r2/p5kp/bp1r1pn1/4n3/8/1NP4B/PP3RPP/R1B3K1 b - - 3 22
Puzzle 7: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 21. Qxb4.
Puzzle rating 1402
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, middlegame tactic
Show solution
21... Qe2+ 22. Kc1 Nd3#
FEN: 4k2r/2p2ppp/q3p3/8/1Q2Pn2/5N2/5PPP/1N1K3R b k - 0 21
Puzzle 8: White to move and mate in 3
Puzzle 9: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 28. c3.
Puzzle rating 1631
Hint
Theme: queenside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
28... Qxc4 29. Qxb6 Qxf4+ 30. Kb1 Qe4+
FEN: 5rk1/5ppn/1r1p1b1p/1N1P1P1P/1qB2P2/R1P5/1P6/2K3QR b - - 0 28
Puzzle 10: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 27. Rcxd7.
Puzzle rating 1684
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, X-ray attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
27... Qxd1+ 28. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 29. Ne1 Rxe1#
FEN: 3r2k1/Q2R2bp/6p1/4P3/5P2/1q2BN2/1r4PP/3R2K1 b - - 0 27
Puzzle 11: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 17. Rb1.
Puzzle rating 1792
Hint
Theme: attraction (decoy), queenside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
17... Rxb1+ 18. Kxb1 Nd2+ 19. Ka1 Nxf3
FEN: 5rk1/p1p2pp1/br2p2p/8/2nP4/2P2B2/P1P1NPPP/1RK4R b - - 12 17
Puzzle 12: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 41. Qe4.
Puzzle rating 1879
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, attraction (decoy), sacrifice
Show solution
41... Rxg2+ 42. Kxg2 Qh2#
FEN: 7k/5prp/5p2/p3p2r/1p1pQq2/1P3P2/P1PR1KP1/4BR2 b - - 1 41
Puzzle 13: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 12. Qxd5+.
Puzzle rating 1943
Hint
Theme: defensive move, middlegame tactic
Show solution
12... Be6 13. Qxe4 Bxf5 14. Bc4+ Kh8
FEN: r1b2rk1/ppp3pp/5q2/3Q1P2/3np3/P1N5/1PP2PPP/R3KB1R b KQ - 0 12
Puzzle 14: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 21. Qc2.
Puzzle rating 2061
Hint
Theme: fork, middlegame tactic
Show solution
21... Qf6 22. Rxb7 Qxf4 23. Rxf7 Rxf7
FEN: 5rk1/pb2Rppp/1p4q1/2n5/2BNnB2/2P5/PPQ3PP/6K1 b - - 2 21
Puzzle 15: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 25. Bf3.
Puzzle rating 2069
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
25... Qh3 26. Be4 f3
FEN: 3r1rk1/R2p2pp/4p3/3b4/3P1pPq/2PQ1B2/1P3P1P/4R1K1 b - - 1 25
Puzzle 16: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 31... Nxe2.
Puzzle rating 2188
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, discovered attack, discovered check
Show solution
32. Nc8+ Nxc5 33. Rd8#
FEN: r4kr1/p2n1pq1/2pNp3/2Q5/4P3/1B3P1P/P3n1P1/3R3K w - - 0 32
Puzzle 17: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 31. Kf2.
Puzzle rating 2345
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, middlegame tactic
Show solution
31... Nh1+ 32. Ke2 Rg2#
FEN: 6k1/p3P3/1pb1P2p/6p1/5pP1/1Q1B1NnP/PP3K2/r5r1 b - - 2 31
Puzzle 18: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 19... Rf8.
Puzzle rating 2410
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, discovered check, sacrifice
Show solution
20. Qxg6+ Rf7 21. Qxf7+ Kxf7 22. Be5+ Kg8 23. Bxa1
FEN: r3kr2/pp2b1p1/2p1Q1p1/8/5B2/8/P1P3PP/qN3R1K w q - 1 20
Puzzle 19: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 20. Bxh7+.
Puzzle rating 2485
Hint
Theme: interference, hanging piece, middlegame tactic
Show solution
20... Kxh7 21. Ng5+ Kg8 22. Qh5 Qd4+ 23. Kc1 Qxa1+ 24. Kd2 Qd4+
FEN: r4rk1/1b3ppB/pqn5/1p1pP3/8/PP3N1P/2PKQ1P1/R4R2 b - - 0 20
Puzzle 20: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 21. Bxg5.
Puzzle rating 2617
Hint
Theme: pin, interference, X-ray attack
Show solution
21... Nxe5 22. Qg3 Qxd4+ 23. Be3 Qxd3 24. Qxe5 exf5 25. Rfd1 Qxe3+ 26. Qxe3 Rxe3 27. Nxd5 Rxc1
FEN: 2r1rnk1/3n1pp1/pq2p2p/1p1pPPB1/1P1P2Q1/P1NB4/6PP/2R2RK1 b - - 0 21