Chess puzzles for 1400–1600 rated players
Puzzles rated 1450–1850, the right difficulty for Class C players (Class C (1400–1599)).
Which puzzles should a 1400–1600 player solve?
Puzzles rated about 1450–1850, with most of the work on clearance, interference, X-ray attack, zugzwang. Solve them slowly and check every reply before you look at the solution. See the full plan in how to improve at 1400–1600.
Puzzle 1: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 30. Bb2.
Puzzle rating 1469
Hint
Theme: fork, discovered attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
30... Ne3+ 31. fxe3 Qxd1+ 32. Kf2 Qc2+ 33. Kg3 Qxb2
FEN: 4r1k1/pp3p2/2pq2p1/3n4/6Q1/1P3N2/1B3PP1/3R1K2 b - - 1 30
Puzzle 2: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 25... d3.
Puzzle rating 1554
Hint
Theme: capturing the defender, endgame tactic
Show solution
26. Rxc6 bxc6 27. Qxd8+
FEN: 3r2k1/1p3p1p/p1n3q1/8/7Q/1P1p1N2/P4PPP/2R3K1 w - - 0 26
Puzzle 3: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 40. Qd3+.
Puzzle rating 1562
Hint
Theme: defensive move, endgame tactic
Show solution
40... e4 41. Qd2 fxe3
FEN: 4q3/6pk/8/1p2p2p/p4pbP/2PQB1P1/PP4P1/6K1 b - - 1 40
Puzzle 4: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 42... f5.
Puzzle rating 1566
Hint
Theme: zugzwang, pawn endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
43. Kg6 fxg4 44. fxg4 Kf4 45. Kh5
FEN: 8/6K1/8/4kpp1/6P1/5P2/8/8 w - - 0 43
Puzzle 5: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 24... Nd4.
Puzzle rating 1583
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
25. Qd5+ Ne6 26. Qb7+ Nc7 27. Qxc7+
FEN: 4rr2/p4k2/1p1p1Pp1/7p/3n3N/1P1Pq1P1/P1P3QP/5R1K w - - 5 25
Puzzle 6: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 44... Rd2.
Puzzle rating 1591
Hint
Theme: defensive move, rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
45. Rd7+ Kc3 46. Rxd2 Kxd2 47. c4
FEN: 8/2R5/8/6p1/3k4/8/2Pr4/5K2 w - - 2 45
Puzzle 7: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 32. g5.
Puzzle rating 1592
Hint
Theme: zugzwang, pawn endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
32... fxg5 33. hxg5 Kf5 34. Kg3 Ke4
FEN: 8/7p/4kpp1/1p1p2P1/p1pP1P1P/P1P2K2/1P6/8 b - - 0 32
Puzzle 8: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 34... Rxb5.
Puzzle rating 1601
Hint
Show solution
35. Rc8+ Kh7 36. axb5
FEN: 6k1/6p1/6rp/Br6/P3bPP1/1P5P/2R5/5K2 w - - 0 35
Puzzle 9: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 35. Rxe7.
Puzzle rating 1612
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Pillsbury’s mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
35... Rg2+ 36. Kf1 Rd1#
FEN: 3r1k2/R3R3/5p2/5B2/4p3/5b1P/P1Pr4/6K1 b - - 0 35
Puzzle 10: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 30. Bxd4.
Puzzle rating 1621
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, Pillsbury’s mate, attraction (decoy)
Show solution
30... Qxh2+ 31. Kxh2 Rh6+ 32. Qh4 Rxh4#
FEN: 2r4k/p6p/1p3r2/3Bp2q/1PPB1p2/P3bP2/2R3PP/4QR1K b - - 0 30
Puzzle 11: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 43. Ka2.
Puzzle rating 1638
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, endgame tactic
Show solution
43... b3+ 44. Rxb3 Qxa5+
FEN: 6k1/5pp1/7p/Q7/1p1P4/2q2P2/K5PP/1R6 b - - 6 43
Puzzle 12: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 41. Kf1.
Puzzle rating 1641
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, exposed king, endgame tactic
Show solution
41... Qf3+ 42. Ke1 Ba5+ 43. Rc3 Bxc3#
FEN: 2R1Q3/p6k/1b5p/4P3/P3q3/6P1/7P/5K2 b - - 5 41
Puzzle 13: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 22. Qxb5.
Puzzle rating 1657
Hint
Show solution
22... Rxf1+ 23. Rxf1 Bxb5 24. Nxd6 Bxf1
FEN: r4rk1/pp4pp/2bp4/1Q6/2NP4/4P3/P5PP/R4RK1 b - - 0 22
Puzzle 14: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 31. Rd8+.
Puzzle rating 1665
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
31... Rxd8 32. Rxd8+ Ke7 33. Qh4+ f6 34. exf6+ Bxf6
FEN: 2rR1k2/1p3pbQ/p5p1/4P3/5P2/PN6/1rq3P1/K2R4 b - - 3 31
Puzzle 15: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 36... Rxd6.
Puzzle rating 1673
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, middlegame tactic
Show solution
37. Re8+ Kf7 38. Bh5+ g6 39. R1e7#
FEN: 5k2/6p1/1bpr1p1p/1p4n1/pP1P2B1/P1q3P1/2N1RPK1/4R3 w - - 0 37
Puzzle 16: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 36. Rd1.
Puzzle rating 1686
Hint
Theme: hanging piece, defensive move, endgame tactic
Show solution
36... Qxa4 37. Qxe7 Qxd1+ 38. Kh2 Qa4
FEN: 3Qb1k1/4r2p/4P1p1/3p1p2/Bq6/7P/5PP1/3R2K1 b - - 11 36
Puzzle 17: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 45. Kc4.
Puzzle rating 1703
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, queen endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
45... d5+ 46. Kb4 Qxc7
FEN: 8/1pQ5/3p2k1/4q3/2K5/1P1P4/2P5/8 b - - 7 45
Puzzle 18: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 34... b4.
Puzzle rating 1712
Hint
Theme: sacrifice, knight endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
35. Nxb4+ Nxb4 36. f6
FEN: 8/1p4pp/8/3n1PP1/1p5P/3N2K1/k7/8 w - - 0 35
Puzzle 19: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 10... bxc6.
Puzzle rating 1719
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, discovered check, double check
Show solution
11. Nf6+ Kd8 12. Re8#
FEN: r1b1kbnr/2p2ppp/2p5/1p6/4N3/8/PPP2PPP/R1BKR3 w kq - 0 11
Puzzle 20: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 29... exd5.
Puzzle rating 1736
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Opera mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
30. Rg2+ Kf7 31. Rg7#
FEN: 3r1rk1/7p/3b4/p2p4/2p2P2/P1B5/1P1R3P/2K1R3 w - - 0 30