Chess puzzles for under 400 rated players
Puzzles rated 399–750, the right difficulty for Foundation players (New to chess (unrated)).
Which puzzles should a under 400 player solve?
Puzzles rated about 399–750, with most of the work on mate in 1, hanging piece, fork, back-rank mate. Solve them slowly and check every reply before you look at the solution. See the full plan in how to improve at under 400.
Puzzle 1: Black to move and mate in 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 18. Qxd5.
Puzzle rating 406
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, queenside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
18... Qxc2#
FEN: 2r2rk1/2qnbpp1/p2p3p/3Qp3/1p3PPB/1N5P/PPP1B3/2KR3R b - - 0 18
Puzzle 2: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 41. a3.
Puzzle rating 521
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Opera mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
41... Rd1+ 42. Ka2 Ra1#
FEN: 8/3r1k2/p4b2/8/8/PP6/2P3QP/1K6 b - - 0 41
Puzzle 3: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 30. Rf6.
Puzzle rating 556
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, attraction (decoy), sacrifice
Show solution
30... Rxf1+ 31. Kxf1 Rd1#
FEN: 3r2k1/R7/5Rp1/8/2P5/5p2/5P1P/3r1NK1 b - - 1 30
Puzzle 4: Black to move and mate in 2
Puzzle 5: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 20... Qxf3.
Puzzle rating 609
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, Pillsbury’s mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
21. Rd8#
FEN: r1b2k1r/pp2n1p1/5b1p/7B/8/2N2q2/P4PPP/3R2K1 w - - 0 21
Puzzle 6: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 24. Qh3.
Puzzle rating 624
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, sacrifice, endgame tactic
Show solution
24... Qf1+ 25. Rxf1 Rxf1#
FEN: 5rk1/pp4p1/7p/4P3/2p1P3/2B3pQ/PPP2qP1/R6K b - - 1 24
Puzzle 7: Black to move and mate in 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 42. Rxg1.
Puzzle rating 634
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, Opera mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
42... Rxg1#
FEN: 6rk/7p/8/2b5/2P1Bp2/5P2/4Q2P/6RK b - - 0 42
Puzzle 8: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 38. Rxf2.
Puzzle rating 646
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, hanging piece, endgame tactic
Show solution
38... Qxd1+ 39. Rf1 Qxf1#
FEN: 1r6/1kp5/3p3Q/1p6/3q4/1P3P2/P4RPP/3R3K b - - 0 38
Puzzle 9: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 85... Nh5.
Puzzle rating 658
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, epaulette mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
86. Rg6#
FEN: 8/3KN2r/7k/7n/6R1/8/8/8 w - - 6 86
Puzzle 10: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 21... Rb8.
Puzzle rating 672
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, Opera mate, sacrifice
Show solution
22. Qe8+ Nxe8 23. Rxe8+ Qd8 24. Rxd8#
FEN: 1rk2b1r/5ppb/pBpq1n1p/2N4P/6P1/3pQP2/PPP5/R3R1K1 w - - 9 22
Puzzle 11: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 56. Kd4.
Puzzle rating 673
Hint
Theme: quiet move, promotion, advanced pawn
Show solution
56... a4 57. Kd5 a3 58. c5 a2 59. c6 a1=Q
FEN: 8/8/6p1/p6p/1kPK1P1P/6P1/8/8 b - - 1 56
Puzzle 12: Black to move and mate in 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 14. O-O-O.
Puzzle rating 689
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, middlegame tactic
Show solution
14... Ba3#
FEN: r3kb1r/pp4pp/2n2p2/4pb2/2P5/1P3N2/P2B1PPP/2KR1B1R b kq - 3 14
Puzzle 13: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 15... Nc5.
Puzzle rating 696
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, discovered check, double check
Show solution
16. Nf6#
FEN: 1rb2bkr/pp4pp/8/2nNp3/4q3/1Q6/PPP2PPP/R1B2RK1 w - - 1 16
Puzzle 14: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 25. f4.
Puzzle rating 709
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Arabian mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
25... Nf3+ 26. Kh1 Rg1#
FEN: 6k1/bpp2pp1/p5rp/2P1n3/BP3P2/P3P2P/5P1K/R1B5 b - - 0 25
Puzzle 15: Black to move and mate in 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 6. exf5.
Puzzle rating 716
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, double check, opening tactic
Show solution
6... Nxf3#
FEN: r1b1kbnr/ppppq1pp/8/4nP2/8/5N2/PPPB1PPP/RN1QKB1R b KQkq - 0 6
Puzzle 16: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 43. e5+.
Puzzle rating 719
Hint
Theme: defensive move, zugzwang, pawn endgame
Show solution
43... Kf5 44. Kd3 Kxe5
FEN: 8/8/1p2pk2/pP2P3/P2K2p1/6Pp/7P/8 b - - 0 43
Puzzle 17: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 43... Kc4.
Puzzle rating 730
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, epaulette mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
44. Rxc6+ Bc5 45. Rxc5#
FEN: 8/p7/1bp3R1/3p4/1PkNp3/2P1Kp2/P4r1r/4R3 w - - 1 44
Puzzle 18: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 35. Qf3.
Puzzle rating 734
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, back-rank mate, sacrifice
Show solution
35... Qe1+ 36. Rxe1 Rxe1#
FEN: 3Q4/5ppk/7p/4r3/2b1q3/5Q2/1P3PPP/3R2K1 b - - 2 35
Puzzle 19: Black to move and mate in 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 13. gxh8=Q.
Puzzle rating 742
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, Opera mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
13... Rxd1#
FEN: 2kr1b1Q/ppp2p1p/2n5/8/2B5/P3Pb2/1P3P1P/R1BNK1R1 b Q - 0 13
Puzzle 20: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 25... Kxf7.
Puzzle rating 745
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, middlegame tactic
Show solution
26. Qg7#
FEN: 1r2r3/p2n1k1p/4p2B/1Ppb1pQ1/qb1P3P/3B4/1PR2PP1/1K5R w - - 0 26