Chess puzzles for 2400+ rated players
Puzzles rated 2350–3400, the right difficulty for IM / GM track players (International Master / Grandmaster (2400+)).
Which puzzles should a 2400+ player solve?
Puzzles rated about 2350–3400, 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 2400+.
Puzzle 1: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 28. Qa3.
Puzzle rating 2351
Hint
Theme: defensive move, attacking f2/f7, endgame tactic
Show solution
28... Qxf2+ 29. Kd1 Re8
FEN: 5r2/p1k4p/2p5/8/3q4/Q2P2PP/PPP2P2/1R2K3 b - - 2 28
Puzzle 2: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 52... Ke8.
Puzzle rating 2362
Hint
Theme: rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
53. Re6+ Kd7 54. Re2
FEN: 4k3/6K1/1R4P1/8/8/8/1p6/1r6 w - - 9 53
Puzzle 3: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 23... Bc6.
Puzzle rating 2376
Hint
Show solution
24. Rxf7 Rxf7 25. Qxe6 Qf6 26. Rxf6 gxf6 27. Bh5
FEN: 5rk1/pp3ppp/2b1p3/3p4/8/1P2Q2P/Pqr1BRP1/5R1K w - - 7 24
Puzzle 4: White to move and mate in 5
White to move and mate in 5. The opponent just played 19... Ng7.
Puzzle rating 2377
Hint
Theme: attraction (decoy), sacrifice, exposed king
Show solution
20. Rh8+ Kxh8 21. Qh6+ Kg8 22. g6 Rf7 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. Qh8#
FEN: r2q1rk1/p2bb1n1/2n1p1Q1/3p2P1/1ppP1P2/2P1P2R/PP1N3P/R1B3K1 w - - 1 20
Puzzle 5: White to move and mate in 5
White to move and mate in 5. The opponent just played 44... Ke6.
Puzzle rating 2396
Hint
Theme: endgame tactic
Show solution
45. Re8+ Kd7 46. Qf7+ Kc6 47. Rc8+ Kb6 48. Qc7+ Ka6 49. Ra8#
FEN: 7R/6p1/4kp2/1r5Q/7P/3q2B1/5P1K/1q6 w - - 1 45
Puzzle 6: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 40... Re6.
Puzzle rating 2408
Hint
Theme: exposed king, endgame tactic
Show solution
41. Qh8+ Kf7 42. Qh7+ Kf6 43. Bd4+
FEN: 4k3/1K6/p3r2p/2B3p1/1P4P1/1P2n2P/1QP1q3/8 w - - 13 41
Puzzle 7: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 18. Rxf6.
Puzzle rating 2419
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, epaulette mate, discovered attack
Show solution
18... Ng4+ 19. Rxd6 Re3#
FEN: r1b3k1/ppp1r3/3q1R1Q/3pn1p1/3P4/2PB2KP/PP4P1/RN6 b - - 0 18
Puzzle 8: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 18... Ne3.
Puzzle rating 2430
Hint
Theme: fork, interference, sacrifice
Show solution
19. Qh5 h6 20. Rxf7 Re7 21. Qg6 Rxf7 22. Qh7+ Kf8 23. Ne6+ Ke7 24. Nxc7
FEN: r3r1k1/1bq2ppp/p2p4/1pp3N1/8/3Pn1P1/PPP3BP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 1 19
Puzzle 9: Black to move and mate in 4
Black to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 21. fxe4.
Puzzle rating 2442
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, attraction (decoy), queenside attack
Show solution
21... Bxb2+ 22. Kxb2 Qa2+ 23. Kc3 Qa3+ 24. Kd4 e5#
FEN: 5rk1/1p2pbbp/3p2p1/6P1/q3PN2/8/1BPQ4/2KR1B1R b - - 0 21
Puzzle 10: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 29. Rd4.
Puzzle rating 2454
Hint
Show solution
29... Bxh3 30. Qe1 Bxg2+ 31. Kxg2 Qg4+
FEN: 2b2rk1/p4rp1/7p/1p6/3RN2q/3P3P/PPP3P1/R5QK b - - 2 29
Puzzle 11: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 35... Kg8.
Puzzle rating 2483
Hint
Theme: fork, pin, attraction (decoy)
Show solution
36. Rf8+ Kxf8 37. Qf4+ Kg8 38. Rxb8+ Qxb8 39. Qxb8+
FEN: Rb4k1/1q2r1p1/1Pp1p3/2Pp2P1/3Pn3/4Q2P/8/5RK1 w - - 3 36
Puzzle 12: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 65. Ke3.
Puzzle rating 2504
Hint
Theme: defensive move, knight endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
65... Kc3 66. Na2+ Kb3
FEN: 8/8/7p/5pp1/2k1p3/3pK1PP/5P2/2N5 b - - 1 65
Puzzle 13: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 36... h5.
Puzzle rating 2511
Hint
Theme: defensive move, exposed king, pawn endgame
Show solution
37. fxe5 fxe5 38. b5+ Kd6 39. Kb4
FEN: 8/1p6/p1k2pp1/P3p2p/1PK1PP1P/6P1/8/8 w - - 0 37
Puzzle 14: Black to move and mate in 3
Puzzle 15: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 36. Kd1.
Puzzle rating 2566
Hint
Theme: fork, endgame tactic
Show solution
36... Ng5 37. Qf2 Nxf7 38. Qxc5 Rxc5
FEN: 1kr5/5R2/p3p3/2qpP3/4n1P1/1Pp2Q1P/P1P1B3/3K4 b - - 2 36
Puzzle 16: White to move and mate in 5
White to move and mate in 5. The opponent just played 23... Nxf5.
Puzzle rating 2617
Hint
Theme: fork, sacrifice, middlegame tactic
Show solution
24. Qc3+ Kxa4 25. Qc4+ Ka5 26. b4+ Ka4 27. Qb3+ Kb5 28. c4+ Kb6 29. c5+ Kb5 30. a4+ Ka6 31. Qc4#
FEN: rnb4r/p4R2/2p5/k4nq1/N3P1pp/1Q6/PPP3PP/6K1 w - - 0 24
Puzzle 17: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 41... Qg7.
Puzzle rating 2652
Hint
Show solution
42. e6 Rb2 43. f6+ Qg6 44. Qxg6+ Kxg6 45. e7 Raa2 46. Kh1
FEN: 1n6/5pqk/r6p/4PP2/1r5p/3Q3P/6P1/3RR1K1 w - - 1 42
Puzzle 18: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 25... Bxe5.
Puzzle rating 2689
Hint
Theme: quiet move, middlegame tactic
Show solution
26. dxe5 Qxe5 27. Bf2 Bxc2 28. Qxc2
FEN: 2k1r2r/2p1qp2/p5n1/1pPpb2p/bP1P2pP/P3B1P1/2NN4/1RQ2RK1 w - - 0 26
Puzzle 19: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 26... Rhg8.
Puzzle rating 2689
Hint
Theme: queenside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
27. Nxb5 Rd3 28. Ra8+
FEN: 2kr2r1/2q5/4pp1p/1p2P3/1PpN1P1b/2P1Q3/2K3bP/R5R1 w - - 2 27
Puzzle 20: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 43... Kf5.
Puzzle rating 2876
Hint
Theme: trapped piece, bishop endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
44. a5 Bxa5 45. Kxa5 g4 46. hxg4+
FEN: 8/p1p5/Kb6/1Pp1pkpp/P7/3P2PP/B7/8 w - - 2 44