Chess Puzzles by Tactic and Rating

3580 free chess puzzles organised two ways: by the tactical pattern they train, and by difficulty. Pick the pattern you keep missing, then the rating band that matches your level — every puzzle shows its solution, so you can check yourself straight away.

Solving puzzles at random is a weak way to improve, because you never find out which patterns you are actually blind to. Working through one motif at a time is slower and much more effective: after ten pins in a row you start seeing pins in your own games.

For tracking progress rather than browsing, the rated trainer serves puzzles matched to your rating and moves with you as you solve, and the Mistake Trainer generates puzzles from positions you got wrong in your own games.

Every theme by rating

Tactic6008001000120014001600180020002200
Pin6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Fork6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Skewer6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Discovered Attack6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Double Check6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Hanging Piece6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Trapped Piece6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Sacrifice6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Deflection6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Attraction6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Interference6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Clearance6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Intermezzo6008001000120014001600180020002200+
X-Ray Attack6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Capturing the Defender6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Quiet Move6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Defensive Move6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Zugzwang6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Back Rank Mate6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Smothered Mate600800100012001400160018002000
Anastasia's Mate6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Arabian Mate6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Boden's Mate600800100012001400160018002000
Hook Mate6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Double Bishop Mate6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Mate in 16008001000120014001600180020002200+
Mate in 26008001000120014001600180020002200+
Mate in 36008001000120014001600180020002200+
Advanced Pawn6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Promotion6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Underpromotion6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Endgame6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Rook Endgame6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Queen Endgame6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Pawn Endgame6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Knight Endgame6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Bishop Endgame6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Kingside Attack6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Queenside Attack6008001000120014001600180020002200+
Exposed King6008001000120014001600180020002200+

Frequently asked questions

Are these chess puzzles free?

Yes. Every puzzle on these pages is free to view along with its solution, with no account required. The rated trainer that tracks your puzzle rating over time is part of Chess Ramp Premium.

Which puzzle rating should I start with?

Start at roughly your own online rating. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 1200 is one that 1200-rated players solve about half the time. If you are solving nearly all of them, move up a band.

What is the best way to practise chess tactics?

Work one pattern at a time rather than solving at random, and check the solution immediately so a wrong answer becomes a corrected pattern rather than a habit. Then review your own games to find which motifs you actually miss.