Chess puzzles for 1600–1800 rated players
Puzzles rated 1650–2000, the right difficulty for Class B players (Class B (1600–1799)).
Which puzzles should a 1600–1800 player solve?
Puzzles rated about 1650–2000, with most of the work on quiet move, defensive move, intermezzo (zwischenzug), zugzwang. Solve them slowly and check every reply before you look at the solution. See the full plan in how to improve at 1600–1800.
Puzzle 1: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 23... Kg7.
Puzzle rating 1661
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, discovered check, double check
Show solution
24. Ne8+ Kg8 25. Qg7#
FEN: r2q1r2/pp3pk1/2b1pN1p/2p1Q1pP/2Pn4/5P1N/PP4P1/R4RK1 w - - 4 24
Puzzle 2: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 39... Qxe6.
Puzzle rating 1698
Hint
Theme: queen endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
40. Qxe6 fxe6 41. c5 bxc5 42. dxc5
FEN: 4Q3/5p1k/1p2q3/p7/2PP2p1/1P4Pp/P7/6K1 w - - 0 40
Puzzle 3: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 12... Kf7.
Puzzle rating 1732
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, opening tactic
Show solution
13. Nxe5+ dxe5 14. Qxg4
FEN: r2q1b1r/pp2pk1p/3p2p1/4n1B1/4P1b1/5N2/PP3PPP/R2QR1K1 w - - 2 13
Puzzle 4: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 11... Kd8.
Puzzle rating 1748
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, middlegame tactic
Show solution
12. Bc7#
FEN: r1bk1bnr/pp1p2pp/2p5/3N3Q/2B1pB2/q7/P1P2PPP/1R2K2R w K - 4 12
Puzzle 5: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 14. Nxb5.
Puzzle rating 1753
Hint
Theme: kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
14... Bxh2+ 15. Kh1 Qe5
FEN: 5rk1/2q2ppp/Q1nbbn2/1N6/2p5/P7/BPPPNPPP/R1B2RK1 b - - 0 14
Puzzle 6: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 9... Ncxd4.
Puzzle rating 1760
Hint
Theme: opening tactic
Show solution
10. Nxd4 Nxd4 11. Bxd7+ Qxd7 12. Qxd4
FEN: r2qkb1r/pp1b1ppp/4p3/1B1pPn2/Q2n4/5N2/PP3PPP/RNB1K2R w KQkq - 0 10
Puzzle 7: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 16. Nf4.
Puzzle rating 1776
Hint
Show solution
16... Bb4+ 17. Kf1 Qxb5+
FEN: 1r3rk1/pp4p1/2n1p2p/1Bb3q1/5N2/1Q2P3/PP3PPP/3RK2R b K - 1 16
Puzzle 8: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 21... Kd5.
Puzzle rating 1782
Hint
Theme: skewer, middlegame tactic
Show solution
22. Qa8+ Kd6 23. Qxg2
FEN: 5b1r/5p1p/4p1p1/3k4/3P1P2/Q7/PrP3qP/R3K2R w KQ - 3 22
Puzzle 9: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 36... Raxf1.
Puzzle rating 1793
Hint
Theme: fork, endgame tactic
Show solution
37. Ne3+ Ke6 38. Nxf1 hxg3 39. hxg3
FEN: 8/8/8/3k2p1/3P2Np/2P2PP1/4K2P/5r1r w - - 0 37
Puzzle 10: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 31. Kf2.
Puzzle rating 1806
Hint
Theme: bishop endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
31... cxb3 32. axb3 a4 33. bxa4 bxa4
FEN: 2k2b2/8/4p3/pp1pP1p1/2pPp1P1/1PP1P2p/P4K1P/4B3 b - - 1 31
Puzzle 11: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 16... Rc7.
Puzzle rating 1812
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, clearance, sacrifice
Show solution
17. Qa8+ Ke7 18. Rxd6 Qxd6 19. Rd1
FEN: 4kb1r/2r2ppp/pq1p4/1p1Qp1Pn/4P3/1N3P1B/PPP4P/2KR3R w k - 3 17
Puzzle 12: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 50... Kb7.
Puzzle rating 1823
Hint
Theme: zugzwang, pawn endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
51. bxa6+ Kxa6 52. Kb4 Ka7 53. Kb5 Kb7 54. a5 bxa5 55. Kxa5
FEN: 8/1k6/pp6/1P1p2p1/P2P2P1/2K5/8/8 w - - 5 51
Puzzle 13: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 26... Rxh3.
Puzzle rating 1833
Hint
Theme: fork, sacrifice, endgame tactic
Show solution
27. Rxb7+ Qxb7 28. Re7+
FEN: 8/qpk2pp1/2p3p1/8/8/PRP1R1Pr/3r3P/1Q5K w - - 0 27
Puzzle 14: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 24... Na6.
Puzzle rating 1835
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, epaulette mate, sacrifice
Show solution
25. Rb5+ cxb5 26. Qxb5#
FEN: r1bq4/pp1p3p/n1pP1p2/k7/P1Q5/4b3/2P3PP/1R5K w - - 2 25
Puzzle 15: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 11... Bc6.
Puzzle rating 1853
Hint
Theme: deflection, attacking f2/f7, opening tactic
Show solution
12. Qc8+ Qd8 13. Bxf7+ Kxf7 14. Qxd8
FEN: rn2kbnr/pQ2qppp/2b5/8/2B5/3pB3/PP3PPP/R3K1NR w KQkq - 3 12
Puzzle 16: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 21. Rf2.
Puzzle rating 1870
Hint
Show solution
21... Nd4+ 22. Qxd4 Qh5+ 23. Kd3 exd4
FEN: 2bk2nB/1p1p3p/2n5/3Qp3/2P1P3/8/P3KR1q/R7 b - - 1 21
Puzzle 17: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 33. Rd2.
Puzzle rating 1878
Hint
Theme: pin, clearance, endgame tactic
Show solution
33... Rxd2 34. Qxd2 Qb1+ 35. Kf2 Rb2 36. Qxb2 Qxb2+
FEN: 1r4k1/1q3p1p/6p1/R1p5/2P2P2/2Q1P3/1r1R2PP/6K1 b - - 6 33
Puzzle 18: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 26... Qxa2.
Puzzle rating 1886
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, Pillsbury’s mate, sacrifice
Show solution
27. Qxf6+ exf6 28. Rxe8+ Bf8 29. Rxf8#
FEN: 4r2k/p3pn1p/3bRppB/2pR4/5P1Q/8/qP4PP/6K1 w - - 0 27
Puzzle 19: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 15... Kf8.
Puzzle rating 1895
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, opening tactic
Show solution
16. Ng5 Qe8 17. Nxe6+ Kg8 18. Qxg7#
FEN: r2q1k1r/1pp1b1p1/p1b1pnQ1/8/3P4/P3PN2/1P4PP/RN3RK1 w - - 1 16
Puzzle 20: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 35... Kg7.
Puzzle rating 1909
Hint
Theme: pin, endgame tactic
Show solution
36. Rxd6 e4 37. Rd7 Qxd7+ 38. Nxd7
FEN: 8/4q1k1/p2p1N2/1p2pKpp/8/2P5/PP5P/3R4 w - - 6 36