X-ray attack chess puzzles
20 X-ray attack puzzles from real games, ordered from easy to hard. Each has a hint and the full solution.
What is a X-ray attack in chess?
An X-ray is an attack or defence through an enemy piece: a rook or bishop that seems blocked still controls the square behind once the blocking piece moves or is exchanged.
How to spot a X-ray attack
When pieces line up on a file or diagonal, count the attackers and defenders behind them too. Exchanges along the line often reveal the X-ray.
Learn it first: Skewers and x-rays · In-between moves (zwischenzug)
X-ray attack chess puzzles
Puzzle 1: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 44... Qd1+.
Puzzle rating 645
Hint
Theme: X-ray attack, endgame tactic
Show solution
45. Rxd1 cxd1=R+ 46. Qxd1
FEN: 2r3k1/3p3p/3P4/6p1/Q3p3/7P/2p5/2Rq3K w - - 5 45
Puzzle 2: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 33. Qxh6.
Puzzle rating 861
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, back-rank mate, X-ray attack
Show solution
33... Qxf1+ 34. Rxf1 Rxf1#
FEN: r4rk1/5R2/4P1pQ/1q6/pp6/2p3B1/PPP3PP/5R1K b - - 0 33
Puzzle 3: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 21. Re1.
Puzzle rating 933
Hint
Theme: X-ray attack, kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
21... Rxe1+ 22. Qxe1 Qxe1+
FEN: 2k5/pppn2p1/6n1/8/5p2/3PrPqN/PPP2QBR/4R1K1 b - - 1 21
Puzzle 4: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 23... Qe5.
Puzzle rating 996
Hint
Theme: X-ray attack, kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
24. Nxf6+ Qxf6 25. Qxf6
FEN: r4rk1/pp3p1p/2p2p2/3bq3/4NnP1/2QP1B2/PPP2P1P/2KR4 w - - 2 24
Puzzle 5: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 35. Rb2.
Puzzle rating 1128
Hint
Theme: X-ray attack, endgame tactic
Show solution
35... Rc1 36. Rxd2 Rxd1+ 37. Rxd1 Rxd1+
FEN: 2r2b1k/6pp/1B1r4/P7/P4P2/6P1/1R1p3P/3R2K1 b - - 1 35
Puzzle 6: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 20. Rxe2.
Puzzle rating 1161
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, back-rank mate, X-ray attack
Show solution
20... Qxe1+ 21. Rxe1 Rxe1#
FEN: r3r1k1/pQp2ppp/8/8/8/8/PPP1R1PP/3qR2K b - - 0 20
Puzzle 7: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 23. Nf5.
Puzzle rating 1274
Hint
Theme: skewer, X-ray attack, kingside attack
Show solution
23... Qxc1+ 24. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 25. Kf2 Rf1+ 26. Ke3 Rxf3+
FEN: 2r2rk1/p1R2ppp/bp6/3P1Nq1/4P3/5Q2/PP4PP/2R3K1 b - - 5 23
Puzzle 8: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 27. Rae1.
Puzzle rating 1415
Hint
Theme: X-ray attack, kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
27... Qxe1+ 28. Rxe1 Rxe1+
FEN: r3r2k/1p4pp/p4pn1/q7/P1BP4/1P1QR2P/1b3PPB/4R1K1 b - - 4 27
Puzzle 9: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 28... Qg5.
Puzzle rating 1446
Hint
Theme: fork, X-ray attack, hanging piece
Show solution
29. Qxd7+ Re7 30. Rf7+ Rxf7 31. Qxf7+
FEN: 4r3/1bpn3k/r5pp/P2p2q1/2p3QN/8/6PP/R4R1K w - - 2 29
Puzzle 10: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 30. Raa7.
Puzzle rating 1550
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, back-rank mate, X-ray attack
Show solution
30... Qb1+ 31. Rxb1 Rxb1+ 32. Qd1 Rxd1#
FEN: 1r1r2k1/RR4p1/3N1pqp/2Pn4/3P4/2P2Q2/5PPP/6K1 b - - 7 30
Puzzle 11: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 38... Rxf4.
Puzzle rating 1613
Hint
Theme: X-ray attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
39. Qxg4 Rxg4 40. Rxg4
FEN: 5r2/6k1/p2b2pp/1p6/2pPRrq1/P5P1/1P2Q1K1/1B1R4 w - - 0 39
Puzzle 12: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 42... Rc1.
Puzzle rating 1763
Hint
Theme: X-ray attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
43. Rbxc1 bxc1=R 44. Qxc1
FEN: 8/3bB2k/3Pp1p1/P4p1p/8/Q4P2/1p1rq1PP/1Rr3RK w - - 6 43
Puzzle 13: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 35... Rd6.
Puzzle rating 1847
Hint
Theme: pin, X-ray attack, endgame tactic
Show solution
36. Qc3+ e5 37. Rxe1 dxe1=R+ 38. Qxe1
FEN: 8/p5p1/3rpk2/8/1P3P2/8/1PQp4/1K1Rq3 w - - 3 36
Puzzle 14: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 30. Rg7+.
Puzzle rating 1894
Hint
Theme: X-ray attack, defensive move, endgame tactic
Show solution
30... Kh5 31. Rgd7 Rd4 32. Rxd4 Rxd4
FEN: 3r4/1R4R1/4p1kp/6p1/1B5r/P4PbP/1PP3P1/7K b - - 2 30
Puzzle 15: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 27... Rd3.
Puzzle rating 2038
Hint
Theme: pin, X-ray attack, endgame tactic
Show solution
28. Qc8+ Rd8 29. Qxd8+ Qxd8 30. Bxd8
FEN: 6k1/pp2q1pp/4nB2/5p2/1P2p3/2QrP1R1/P5PP/6K1 w - - 4 28
Puzzle 16: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 16. Rg2.
Puzzle rating 2042
Hint
Theme: fork, discovered attack, X-ray attack
Show solution
16... gxf3 17. Bxf3 Qxg2+ 18. Bxg2 Bxg2+
FEN: rn2k1r1/pbpp1p2/1p2p3/4P1qp/1B1P2p1/P4N2/1PP1BPRP/R2Q3K b q - 3 16
Puzzle 17: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 17. Rf1.
Puzzle rating 2215
Hint
Theme: X-ray attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
17... Bxe4 18. Qf8+ Nd8 19. Qxd8+ Rxd8
FEN: 1k4r1/ppp5/2np2bQ/1Bb1p3/4P1q1/3P4/PPP3PP/RNB2R1K b - - 2 17
Puzzle 18: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 33. Rd5.
Puzzle rating 2279
Hint
Theme: fork, X-ray attack, endgame tactic
Show solution
33... Qc1+ 34. Qd1 Re1+ 35. Qxe1 Qxe1+
FEN: 8/2p3pk/1pP4p/1P1Rrpq1/8/3Q3P/5PP1/6K1 b - - 3 33
Puzzle 19: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 25. b3.
Puzzle rating 2418
Hint
Theme: X-ray attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
25... Qxd4 26. Nf6+ Bxf6 27. exf6 Qxf6 28. Qxf6 Rxf6
FEN: 1r4k1/3pbrp1/1q2p2Q/p3P3/3PNp2/1PN4P/P1P2P2/2K3R1 b - - 0 25
Puzzle 20: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 24... Qxe3+.
Puzzle rating 2484
Hint
Theme: X-ray attack, defensive move, middlegame tactic
Show solution
25. Bf2 Bf3 26. Qc5+ Qxc5 27. Bxc5+ Ke6 28. Rxf3
FEN: 2r3r1/pp2k2p/2n2p2/1B2p3/2Q3b1/2P1q1B1/PP4P1/R4RK1 w - - 0 25