Chess puzzles for 800–1000 rated players
Puzzles rated 850–1250, the right difficulty for Class F players (Class F (800–999)).
Which puzzles should a 800–1000 player solve?
Puzzles rated about 850–1250, with most of the work on fork, pin, skewer, discovered attack. Solve them slowly and check every reply before you look at the solution. See the full plan in how to improve at 800–1000.
Puzzle 1: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 7... Bxd1.
Puzzle rating 931
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, attacking f2/f7, opening tactic
Show solution
8. Bxf7#
FEN: rn1qkb1r/pp2pppp/2p2n2/4N3/2B5/2NP4/PPP2PPP/R1BbK2R w KQkq - 0 8
Puzzle 2: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 10... Bxf3.
Puzzle rating 950
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, attacking f2/f7, middlegame tactic
Show solution
11. Qxf7#
FEN: rn1qk2r/pp3ppp/5b2/3Qp3/2B1P3/2N2b2/PP3PPP/R3K2R w KQkq - 0 11
Puzzle 3: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 36. g4.
Puzzle rating 961
Hint
Theme: promotion, advanced pawn, endgame tactic
Show solution
36... d2 37. Kf2 d1=Q
FEN: 8/N5pp/1p2k3/2p2R2/P3p1P1/1PPp4/7P/6K1 b - - 0 36
Puzzle 4: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 38. Rxf6.
Puzzle rating 977
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Opera mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
38... Bf3+ 39. Kd2 Rd1#
FEN: 1k6/1bp1N3/5R2/2B1pp2/3p2p1/3P2P1/2P1KP2/7r b - - 0 38
Puzzle 5: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 18... g5.
Puzzle rating 989
Hint
Theme: pin, middlegame tactic
Show solution
19. Nf5+ Kd8 20. Nxd4
FEN: r6r/1bp1kp2/p3pn1p/3p2pP/1pPq2P1/3B1PNR/PP2Q3/R3K3 w Q - 0 19
Puzzle 6: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 23. Rxe3.
Puzzle rating 999
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, back-rank mate, sacrifice
Show solution
23... Qxf2+ 24. Kh1 Qf1+ 25. Rxf1 Rxf1#
FEN: r4r1k/6p1/p6p/4Q3/3P4/P1P1R3/2q2PPP/R5K1 b - - 0 23
Puzzle 7: Black to move and mate in 4
Black to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 28. Rf3.
Puzzle rating 1015
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, deflection, endgame tactic
Show solution
28... Qh2+ 29. Kf1 Qh1+ 30. Ke2 Qxg2+ 31. Rf2 Qxf2#
FEN: 1k5q/pp3p2/4Pp2/8/1P1pB3/P2P1Rb1/6P1/3Q2K1 b - - 3 28
Puzzle 8: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 25. Qxh6.
Puzzle rating 1027
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, queenside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
25... Qxc2+ 26. Ka1 Qb2#
FEN: 2rk2r1/5p1p/3p3Q/2qNpP2/1p2P1P1/pP5P/P1P5/1K1R3R b - - 0 25
Puzzle 9: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 12. Ng3.
Puzzle rating 1052
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, attacking f2/f7, middlegame tactic
Show solution
12... Qxf2+ 13. Kd1 Qxd2#
FEN: rnb1kb1r/p4ppp/1p3q2/1Pp1N3/Q2Pn3/6N1/PB1P1PPP/R3KB1R b KQkq - 3 12
Puzzle 10: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 45... Kc6.
Puzzle rating 1070
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, exposed king, rook endgame
Show solution
46. Rg6+ Kd7 47. Rh7+ Ke8 48. Rg8#
FEN: 8/8/2k5/7R/1p6/1r6/r6P/6RK w - - 2 46
Puzzle 11: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 33. Qxd5.
Puzzle rating 1085
Hint
Theme: exposed king, endgame tactic
Show solution
33... Rb1+ 34. Kh2 Rf2+ 35. Kh3 Rh1+
FEN: 1r3r1k/4N2p/p5P1/3Q4/4n3/4R3/8/6K1 b - - 0 33
Puzzle 12: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 47. Bb3.
Puzzle rating 1093
Hint
Theme: promotion, advanced pawn, endgame tactic
Show solution
47... Rxb3+ 48. Rxb3 d1=Q+
FEN: 8/8/5p2/1R1pk2p/7P/1B3rP1/3p1P2/1K6 b - - 1 47
Puzzle 13: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 41... Kf8.
Puzzle rating 1100
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, endgame tactic
Show solution
42. Qe7#
FEN: 4bk2/Q5Rp/p5p1/1p1Pp3/1Pn1Pp2/q6P/6PK/8 w - - 2 42
Puzzle 14: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 47... Kh7.
Puzzle rating 1109
Hint
Theme: skewer, exposed king, endgame tactic
Show solution
48. Rh8+ Kg6 49. Rg8+ Kf5 50. Rxg2
FEN: 4R3/5p1k/8/1p6/p1b4K/P1B2P2/1P4r1/8 w - - 8 48
Puzzle 15: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 45... Kg5.
Puzzle rating 1118
Hint
Theme: rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
46. Rxf5+ Kxf5 47. Kd4 Ke6 48. Kc5
FEN: 8/8/8/1p1p1rk1/2p2R2/P1P1K3/1P6/8 w - - 2 46
Puzzle 16: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 7... Nbd7.
Puzzle rating 1133
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, smothered mate, pin
Show solution
8. Nd6#
FEN: r2qkb1r/pp1npppp/2p2n2/8/4N3/8/PPPPQPPP/R1B1KB1R w KQkq - 1 8
Puzzle 17: Black to move and mate in 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 31. Kf2.
Puzzle rating 1134
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, dovetail mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
31... Qe3#
FEN: 1r2r1k1/p4p1p/3p2p1/2pPq3/2P5/1P5P/P4KB1/1R1Q1R2 b - - 2 31
Puzzle 18: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 29. Rxb3.
Puzzle rating 1143
Hint
Show solution
29... Ra2+ 30. Ke3 Bxb3
FEN: 8/1p4pp/3kp3/r2bR3/5P2/1R4P1/5K1P/8 b - - 0 29
Puzzle 19: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 39. Kc6.
Puzzle rating 1190
Hint
Theme: sacrifice, quiet move, promotion
Show solution
39... e4 40. Kxb6 e3 41. Kxa5 e2 42. b6 e1=Q
FEN: 8/8/1pK5/pPp1p1kp/P1P5/2P3P1/8/8 b - - 4 39
Puzzle 20: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 74. f3.
Puzzle rating 1219
Hint
Theme: advanced pawn, pawn endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
74... e3 75. Kh2 e2
FEN: 8/6k1/7p/5p2/4pP2/5PKP/6P1/8 b - - 0 74