Chess puzzles for 2200–2400 rated players
Puzzles rated 2150–2650, the right difficulty for Master players (National Master / CM / FM (2200–2399)).
Which puzzles should a 2200–2400 player solve?
Puzzles rated about 2150–2650, with most of the work on quiet move, defensive move, zugzwang, intermezzo (zwischenzug). Solve them slowly and check every reply before you look at the solution. See the full plan in how to improve at 2200–2400.
Puzzle 1: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 32. Qe7.
Puzzle rating 2167
Hint
Theme: pin, discovered check, double check
Show solution
32... Rxg4 33. fxg4 Nf3+ 34. Kf1 Nxd2+
FEN: 5r2/1p2Q1pk/p7/6r1/P5Bn/5PqP/2PR2P1/4R1K1 b - - 4 32
Puzzle 2: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 50... Ne4.
Puzzle rating 2184
Hint
Theme: deflection, promotion, underpromotion
Show solution
51. a8=N+ Nxa8 52. Kxc4
FEN: 8/P1k2pp1/1nN5/1P6/2r1n1Pp/1K5P/8/4R3 w - - 7 51
Puzzle 3: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 36... Rc8.
Puzzle rating 2196
Hint
Theme: fork, capturing the defender, endgame tactic
Show solution
37. Bd7 Qxd6 38. exd6 Rd8 39. Bxe6
FEN: 2r5/p1q3k1/1pBQn1p1/4P2p/5P2/B5P1/P6P/6K1 w - - 1 37
Puzzle 4: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 44. Ra8.
Puzzle rating 2233
Hint
Theme: skewer, sacrifice, exposed king
Show solution
44... Rxb7 45. Rxe8 Rb1+ 46. Ke2 Rxh1
FEN: R3r3/1P6/5pk1/P2P2p1/4P3/5P2/1r5p/3K3R b - - 2 44
Puzzle 5: White to move and mate in 5
White to move and mate in 5. The opponent just played 30... Ka8.
Puzzle rating 2260
Hint
Theme: fork, discovered attack, deflection
Show solution
31. Bb7+ Kxb7 32. Rxa7+ Kxa7 33. Qc7+ Ka6 34. Ra1+ Kb5 35. c4+ Kb4 36. Qxb6#
FEN: k4r1r/p2b4/Bpp5/2p3q1/4P1p1/2PP2Qp/1P3P1K/R4R2 w - - 3 31
Puzzle 6: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 42. cxd4.
Puzzle rating 2270
Hint
Theme: endgame tactic
Show solution
42... Nxf5+ 43. Kf2 Nxh4
FEN: 2k5/4n1q1/p7/1p2pP2/2pP2PQ/P2bKB2/3B4/8 b - - 0 42
Puzzle 7: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 19... Be6.
Puzzle rating 2294
Hint
Show solution
20. Nf4 Qc6 21. Qxc6 bxc6 22. Nxe6
FEN: r1k2b1r/1pp3p1/p2qb2p/3N4/2P5/1P3Q2/P4PPP/3R1RK1 w - - 7 20
Puzzle 8: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 9... Nxe4.
Puzzle rating 2312
Hint
Theme: opening tactic
Show solution
10. Bxe7 Nxc3 11. Nxc6 Nxd1 12. Nxd8
FEN: r1bq1rk1/pp1pbpp1/2n1p2p/8/3Nn2B/2N2P2/PPP1B1PP/R2QK2R w KQ - 0 10
Puzzle 9: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 45... Qc3+.
Puzzle rating 2315
Hint
Theme: defensive move, queen and rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
46. Ka2 Qxc2+ 47. Rb2 Qb3+ 48. Rxb3
FEN: 5k2/RR6/7p/5p2/p1p4P/K1q3P1/2P5/8 w - - 8 46
Puzzle 10: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 57... Rh1.
Puzzle rating 2333
Hint
Theme: fork, defensive move, endgame tactic
Show solution
58. Ng3+ Kf4 59. Nxh1 Ke3 60. f4
FEN: 8/5p2/6p1/5kPp/1p2N2P/1P3P2/2K5/7r w - - 7 58
Puzzle 11: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 52... Kg4.
Puzzle rating 2355
Hint
Theme: quiet move, promotion, advanced pawn
Show solution
53. a4 h5 54. a5 bxa5 55. c5 h4 56. c6 h3 57. c7 h2 58. c8=Q+
FEN: 8/7p/1p1K4/8/2P3k1/8/P7/8 w - - 2 53
Puzzle 12: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 61. Kf4.
Puzzle rating 2360
Hint
Theme: bishop endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
61... Kc2 62. Be3 Bxe3+
FEN: 8/1p6/8/P1b5/5Kp1/Pk6/8/2B5 b - - 1 61
Puzzle 13: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 33... Qe6.
Puzzle rating 2376
Hint
Theme: quiet move, queen endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
34. Qxe6+ Kxe6 35. g5 a5 36. bxa5
FEN: 8/1p3k2/p1p1q1p1/2Pp1p2/PP1P2P1/6K1/4QP2/8 w - - 2 34
Puzzle 14: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 70. Nxc6.
Puzzle rating 2392
Hint
Theme: defensive move, knight endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
70... e3 71. Kd6 Ke4
FEN: 8/2K5/2N2p2/8/4p3/5k2/8/8 b - - 0 70
Puzzle 15: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 27. Rf4.
Puzzle rating 2416
Hint
Theme: pin, discovered attack, queenside attack
Show solution
27... d3 28. Rc4 d2+ 29. Kb2 Qxc4
FEN: 1r3rk1/5p2/p4Qp1/2p1P1Pp/3p1R1P/1P6/P1P1qB2/2K4R b - - 2 27
Puzzle 16: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 19... Nd5.
Puzzle rating 2449
Hint
Theme: quiet move, middlegame tactic
Show solution
20. Bxh7+ Kh8 21. Rh3 Nf4 22. Bxf4 Qxd1+ 23. Rxd1
FEN: r2q1rk1/1pp2ppp/p1b5/3nP3/8/4R3/PPBB1P2/R2Q2K1 w - - 1 20
Puzzle 17: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 15... Rf8.
Puzzle rating 2470
Hint
Theme: quiet move, attacking f2/f7, advanced pawn
Show solution
16. Bc4 b5 17. exf7+
FEN: r2qkr2/pp2pp1p/2p1P3/7Q/4p3/8/PP3PP1/R3KB2 w Qq - 1 16
Puzzle 18: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 37... g5.
Puzzle rating 2494
Hint
Theme: defensive move, en passant, pawn endgame
Show solution
38. hxg6 Kf6 39. e5+ dxe5 40. d5 cxd5 41. c5
FEN: 8/8/2ppk2p/p5pP/PpPPP3/1P2K3/8/8 w - g6 0 38
Puzzle 19: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 42... Kg7.
Puzzle rating 2529
Hint
Theme: endgame tactic
Show solution
43. Ra7+ Kh6 44. Bg8 Bg7 45. Rxg7 Rxg8 46. Qxg8
FEN: 3r1b2/6kp/3P2p1/RP3p2/1q2pP1P/1B1p2P1/Q6K/8 w - - 1 43
Puzzle 20: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 49... Nb4.
Puzzle rating 2570
Hint
Theme: promotion, advanced pawn, endgame tactic
Show solution
50. Bxf7+ Kg7 51. Be8 Rxf6 52. d8=Q
FEN: 5rk1/3P1p1p/5Rp1/1p1B4/1n6/5PK1/8/8 w - - 1 50