Chess puzzles for 1000–1200 rated players
Puzzles rated 1050–1450, the right difficulty for Class E players (Class E (1000–1199)).
Which puzzles should a 1000–1200 player solve?
Puzzles rated about 1050–1450, with most of the work on fork, pin, skewer, discovered attack. Solve them slowly and check every reply before you look at the solution. See the full plan in how to improve at 1000–1200.
Puzzle 1: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 40... Qb3.
Puzzle rating 1153
Hint
Theme: deflection, endgame tactic
Show solution
41. Ne8+ Kf8 42. Nxf6
FEN: 8/1p3pk1/p1pN1bp1/2P5/1P6/Pq4P1/3Q1P1K/8 w - - 10 41
Puzzle 2: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 12... cxd4.
Puzzle rating 1162
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, opening tactic
Show solution
13. Qf7#
FEN: r2q1bnr/3bk1pp/p3Pp2/3pP2Q/3p4/2N5/PPP3PP/R1B1K2R w KQ - 0 13
Puzzle 3: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 37... Rf6.
Puzzle rating 1170
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
38. Rhe8#
FEN: 3R3R/ppp1kp2/5r2/8/8/8/r4P1P/5K2 w - - 13 38
Puzzle 4: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 44... Kd6.
Puzzle rating 1175
Hint
Theme: defensive move, promotion, advanced pawn
Show solution
45. c7 Kd7 46. Kb7 Nc5+ 47. Kb8 Kd6 48. c8=Q
FEN: 8/5p2/pKPk1p2/6p1/6P1/3n1P2/8/8 w - - 1 45
Puzzle 5: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 23... Rxd3.
Puzzle rating 1185
Hint
Theme: intermezzo (zwischenzug), hanging piece, endgame tactic
Show solution
24. Qxa8+ Kxg7 25. Rxd3 Qc1+ 26. Kf2
FEN: r5k1/2q2pPp/p3p3/1p6/1P2Q3/P2r2P1/6PP/3R2K1 w - - 0 24
Puzzle 6: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 52... Rgf4+.
Puzzle rating 1196
Hint
Theme: endgame tactic
Show solution
53. Qxf4 Rxf4+ 54. Kxf4 Nd5+ 55. Ke5
FEN: 8/7p/2PQ4/7k/P3rr2/1P2nK2/8/8 w - - 9 53
Puzzle 7: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 28... R2f7.
Puzzle rating 1200
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, deflection, endgame tactic
Show solution
29. Qh6+ Rh7 30. Qxf8#
FEN: 5r1k/p4r2/2pp2Q1/2p5/P2qP3/1P1P4/2P4P/6RK w - - 1 29
Puzzle 8: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 29. Ne7.
Puzzle rating 1219
Hint
Theme: trapped piece, endgame tactic
Show solution
29... Qc5+ 30. Qxc5 Rxc5 31. Nc8 Rxc8
FEN: 2r5/p3Nkpp/2q2p2/8/1Qp5/5P2/P5PP/5RK1 b - - 1 29
Puzzle 9: White to move and mate in 4
White to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 33... Bb6.
Puzzle rating 1227
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, deflection, endgame tactic
Show solution
34. g5+ Kh5 35. Rxh7+ Kg4 36. f3+ Kf5 37. Rf7#
FEN: 2r5/5R1p/1b2p1pk/3p4/3P2PP/4P3/5PK1/8 w - - 3 34
Puzzle 10: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 28... Qe4.
Puzzle rating 1235
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, sacrifice, endgame tactic
Show solution
29. Qc6+ bxc6 30. Ba6#
FEN: 2kr4/pp1n3p/4Q1p1/3p1p2/4qB2/6P1/5P1P/5BK1 w - - 4 29
Puzzle 11: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 37. Qh6+.
Puzzle rating 1253
Hint
Theme: hanging piece, endgame tactic
Show solution
37... gxh6 38. Rxg8+ Nxg8
FEN: 6rk/6p1/5n1Q/2p1q2p/1p6/1P4RP/P7/2K3R1 b - - 1 37
Puzzle 12: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 9... h6.
Puzzle rating 1268
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, kingside attack, opening tactic
Show solution
10. Nxf6+ gxf6 11. Qh7#
FEN: r1bq1rk1/ppp2pp1/1bnp1n1p/3Np1N1/1PP5/P3P3/2QP1PPP/R1B1KB1R w KQ - 0 10
Puzzle 13: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 63... Kf4.
Puzzle rating 1271
Hint
Show solution
64. Qh6+ g5 65. Qxg5#
FEN: 7Q/8/r5p1/r3pp2/5k1P/5P2/6PK/8 w - - 1 64
Puzzle 14: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 27. Be5.
Puzzle rating 1289
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, discovered check, middlegame tactic
Show solution
27... Nf5+ 28. Kc2 Nxe7
FEN: 2br3k/p3R1pp/1bp5/4B3/2BnP3/2N5/P2K2PP/8 b - - 6 27
Puzzle 15: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 13... Qxb2.
Puzzle rating 1299
Hint
Theme: interference, middlegame tactic
Show solution
14. Bd4 Qa3 15. Bxe5
FEN: r4rk1/pbpp1ppp/1p3n2/3Pn3/4PR2/4B1P1/PqP1N1BP/R2Q2K1 w - - 0 14
Puzzle 16: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 34... Ba6.
Puzzle rating 1307
Hint
Theme: skewer, quiet move, endgame tactic
Show solution
35. Rh3 Ke8 36. Rh8+ Kd7 37. Rxa8
FEN: r4k2/5p2/b3pBp1/p2pP3/5PP1/2PR4/P6K/8 w - - 1 35
Puzzle 17: Black to move and mate in 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 10. Bxe6.
Puzzle rating 1320
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, middlegame tactic
Show solution
10... Qf1#
FEN: N5nr/pp2kpQp/3pB3/2b1p3/3nP3/8/PPPP1qPP/R1BK2NR b - - 0 10
Puzzle 18: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 24... Nc2.
Puzzle rating 1332
Hint
Theme: clearance, middlegame tactic
Show solution
25. Bxc2 Rxc2 26. Qe8+ Nf8 27. Qxd7 Nxd7 28. Re8+
FEN: 2r3k1/3q1ppp/p5n1/1p1p2B1/3P4/4Q2P/P1n2PP1/1B2R1K1 w - - 7 25
Puzzle 19: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 18. h3.
Puzzle rating 1348
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
18... Qxe2+ 19. Qxe2 Nxe2
FEN: r4rk1/1p2bpp1/3p3p/p1pPp3/3nPPq1/PP1P2PP/4N1K1/R1BQ1R2 b - - 0 18
Puzzle 20: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 45... Kd6.
Puzzle rating 1410
Hint
Theme: skewer, bishop endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
46. Ba3+ Kc6 47. Bxf8
FEN: 5b2/8/p2k3p/1p4p1/4K1P1/8/PB5P/8 w - - 5 46