Chess Puzzles
Over 100 chess puzzles to sharpen your tactical eye: mates in 1, 2 and 3 moves and tactics that win material. Find the right move, ask for a hint when you get stuck or view the full solution.
Puzzle 1 of 116
Black to move and mate in 1.
Puzzles solved: 0
How to solve chess puzzles
Each chess puzzle tells you who moves and what the goal is: checkmate in 1, 2 or 3 moves, or find the tactic that wins material. The board is already turned toward the side to move. Tap a piece (or drag it) and then the destination square.
If your move is right, the computer replies with the best defense and you keep going until the end. If it is wrong, the piece goes back and you can try again. On the final move of a mate, any checkmate counts. The solution moves appear in algebraic notation below the prompt.
Stuck? The “Hint” button highlights the piece you should move, and “One more hint” also shows the destination square. “View solution” plays the moves one by one. Choose the type of puzzle with the buttons above the prompt; the site remembers where you left off in each type.
Frequently asked questions
Where do these chess puzzles come from?
They were taken from games played on our chess engine and checked move by move by it: in mate puzzles, the first move is the only one that forces mate in the number of moves asked, against any defense.
What is a mate in 2 puzzle?
It is a position where you move, your opponent responds in the best way possible, and on your second move you deliver checkmate. The key is usually the first move, which is often not even a check.
Do chess puzzles help me play better?
Yes, a lot. Puzzles train pattern recognition for forks, pins, discovered attacks and back-rank mates, which then show up in your own games.