Chess puzzles for 400–800 rated players
Puzzles rated 600–1000, the right difficulty for Novice players (Class H–G (below 800)).
Which puzzles should a 400–800 player solve?
Puzzles rated about 600–1000, with most of the work on mate in 1, mate in 2, hanging piece, fork. Solve them slowly and check every reply before you look at the solution. See the full plan in how to improve at 400–800.
Puzzle 1: Black to move and mate in 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 27. Nxg1.
Puzzle rating 700
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, smothered mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
27... Nf2#
FEN: r5k1/5ppp/1p2p3/p3Q3/2P5/1P5n/P5PP/4R1NK b - - 0 27
Puzzle 2: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 34... Kxg5.
Puzzle rating 754
Hint
Theme: advanced pawn, pawn endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
35. c6 bxc6 36. bxc6 Kf4 37. c7
FEN: 8/pp5p/8/1PP3k1/8/4pp2/P7/5K2 w - - 0 35
Puzzle 3: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 33... Rxe5.
Puzzle rating 775
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, Opera mate, fork
Show solution
34. Rb8+ Re8 35. Rxe8+ Bf8 36. Rxf8#
FEN: 6k1/p4p1p/6pB/2b1r3/4nP2/2P3qP/PR4P1/7K w - - 0 34
Puzzle 4: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 50... Qd2.
Puzzle rating 795
Hint
Theme: endgame tactic
Show solution
51. Qe8+ Kh7 52. Rh4+
FEN: 6k1/p5p1/5p2/4p3/Q3R3/2PP4/PKPq2r1/8 w - - 7 51
Puzzle 5: Black to move and mate in 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 32. Qxh2.
Puzzle rating 817
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, endgame tactic
Show solution
32... Rf1#
FEN: 5r1k/2p4P/1pPp4/p2P4/P3R3/7q/2B4Q/6K1 b - - 0 32
Puzzle 6: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 18... Ke7.
Puzzle rating 839
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, epaulette mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
19. Qxg7#
FEN: r1bqr2Q/pp2k1p1/2n1p3/3nP1N1/8/2P5/P2B1PPP/R3K2R w KQ - 7 19
Puzzle 7: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 49. Kc4.
Puzzle rating 855
Hint
Theme: deflection, rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
49... Rb4+ 50. Kd3 Rxb3+
FEN: 1r6/8/3k2p1/2p3R1/P1Kp3P/1P6/8/8 b - - 4 49
Puzzle 8: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 24... Rxc2.
Puzzle rating 869
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, kingside attack, endgame tactic
Show solution
25. Re8+ Rxe8 26. Rxe8+ Kg7 27. Qf8#
FEN: r5k1/1p2Rp1p/p4qp1/8/1Q1pR3/1P1P3P/1Pr2PP1/6K1 w - - 0 25
Puzzle 9: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 33... Rxe5.
Puzzle rating 886
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, back-rank mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
34. Qd8+ Re8 35. Qxe8#
FEN: b6k/pq4pp/8/1p2r1Q1/2P5/P6P/5PP1/3N2K1 w - - 0 34
Puzzle 10: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 49... Rc4.
Puzzle rating 897
Hint
Theme: endgame tactic
Show solution
50. Rh4+ Ke3 51. Rxc4
FEN: 8/p1P4R/1b1B4/1P1pp3/2r1k3/P7/K7/8 w - - 1 50
Puzzle 11: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 19. Bxb5.
Puzzle rating 902
Hint
Theme: skewer, middlegame tactic
Show solution
19... Ra1+ 20. Kd2 Rxh1
FEN: r5k1/1b1nqpp1/4p2p/1B1p4/3P4/2N1P2P/1PQ2PP1/4K2R b K - 0 19
Puzzle 12: White to move and mate in 2
Puzzle 13: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 29... Ne1+.
Puzzle rating 917
Hint
Theme: defensive move, endgame tactic
Show solution
30. Kf1 Qxf3 31. Kxe1
FEN: 6k1/1p3pp1/p6p/2p2q2/P1Q1P3/1P3PB1/5PKP/4n3 w - - 1 30
Puzzle 14: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 32... Qe7.
Puzzle rating 933
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, back-rank mate, queen endgame
Show solution
33. Qa8+ Qd8 34. Qxd8#
FEN: 7k/p3q1pp/8/2pQ4/2P5/P6P/6P1/7K w - - 1 33
Puzzle 15: Black to move and mate in 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 30. Ke3.
Puzzle rating 942
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, Opera mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
30... Rf3#
FEN: 5r2/1b6/pQ6/1p2P2k/2pP4/P1N1K3/1P4rP/R7 b - - 6 30
Puzzle 16: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 28. Rg2.
Puzzle rating 958
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Arabian mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
28... Rb1+ 29. Rg1 Rxg1#
FEN: 1rbk4/p6R/3N4/3B4/3n4/3P1n2/P5RP/7K b - - 4 28
Puzzle 17: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 30... Qxc1.
Puzzle rating 972
Hint
Theme: defensive move, endgame tactic
Show solution
31. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 32. Kg2
FEN: 2r4k/p6p/1p2pp2/3p1n2/1P1P2P1/P2Q4/5P1P/2q1R1K1 w - - 0 31
Puzzle 18: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 18... Rhd8.
Puzzle rating 974
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, middlegame tactic
Show solution
19. Bc5#
FEN: r2r4/1p1Bkppp/p3pn2/4Nb2/8/2P1B2P/P3KPP1/3R4 w - - 1 19
Puzzle 19: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 31... Kf6.
Puzzle rating 984
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, endgame tactic
Show solution
32. Rd6+ Kg5 33. h4+ Kh5 34. g4#
FEN: 3R4/5p1p/5k2/4pN2/4P3/2n2KP1/1q3P1P/8 w - - 4 32
Puzzle 20: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 16... Bxg4.
Puzzle rating 996
Hint
Theme: fork, middlegame tactic
Show solution
17. Qd4+ Kg8 18. Qxg4
FEN: 1r1q1r2/4ppkp/p2p2p1/3P4/1p4bP/8/PPPQ1PB1/2KR3R w - - 0 17