Advanced Pawn Chess Puzzles — Rated 1200

10 advanced pawn tactics rated between 1200 and 1399, averaging 1297. Each position below is from a real game, with the solution given underneath — so you can check yourself immediately rather than guessing whether you were right.

A pawn on the sixth or seventh rank changes the rules of a position: it ties down pieces far more valuable than itself, and threats of promotion often matter more than the material count.

These are pitched at 1200-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 1200 is one that players around 1200 solve about half the time, so if you are getting most of these you should move up a band.

Solving from a page is good for pattern recognition but not for tracking progress. The rated puzzle trainer serves puzzles matched to your own rating and adjusts as you solve, and the Mistake Trainer builds puzzles from positions you actually got wrong in your own games.

Advanced Pawn puzzles rated 1200

  1. Advanced Pawn puzzle 1, rated 1261a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 1 · rated 1261 · White to play after a6
    Show solution

    bxa6 Rxc6 a7

  2. Advanced Pawn puzzle 2, rated 1206a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 1206 · White to play after Bf7
    Show solution

    b6 Bxc4 b7

  3. Advanced Pawn puzzle 3, rated 1290h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 1290 · Black to play after fxe5
    Show solution

    g2#

  4. Advanced Pawn puzzle 4, rated 1363h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 1363 · Black to play after Rb8
    Show solution

    Rb3 Rxb3 Kxb3 Kg6 b1=Q+

  5. Advanced Pawn puzzle 5, rated 1283a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 1283 · White to play after Be6
    Show solution

    d7 Bxd5 d8=Q

  6. Advanced Pawn puzzle 6, rated 1351a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 1351 · White to play after Qh6
    Show solution

    gxf7+ Rxf7 Qxh6

  7. Advanced Pawn puzzle 7, rated 1248h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 7 · rated 1248 · Black to play after h8=Q
    Show solution

    Rxh8+ Bxh8 b2 Bxb2 axb2

  8. Advanced Pawn puzzle 8, rated 1355a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 1355 · White to play after Kf8
    Show solution

    Ba3+ Re7 Bxe7+ Kxe7 f8=Q+

  9. Advanced Pawn puzzle 9, rated 1294h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 1294 · Black to play after Qd4
    Show solution

    Rg1+ Rxg1 hxg1=Q#

  10. Advanced Pawn puzzle 10, rated 1319h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 1319 · Black to play after f4
    Show solution

    Ra5+ Kd4 Ra4 Rxa4 b1=Q

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Frequently asked questions

What is a advanced pawn in chess?

A pawn on the sixth or seventh rank changes the rules of a position: it ties down pieces far more valuable than itself, and threats of promotion often matter more than the material count.

What does a puzzle rating of 1200 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 1200 is one that players rated around 1200 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 1297, so they suit 1200-rated players.

Are these advanced pawn puzzles free?

Yes. Every puzzle on this page, including its solution, is free to view with no account. The rated trainer that tracks your progress and serves puzzles matched to your rating is part of Chess Ramp Premium.