Capturing the Defender Chess Puzzles — Rated 800

10 defender captures rated between 800 and 999, averaging 929. 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.

Capturing the defender removes the piece that holds the position together. The material trade is often equal or even losing on its face — the point is what becomes undefended a move later.

These are pitched at 800-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 800 is one that players around 800 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.

Capturing the Defender puzzles rated 800

  1. Capturing the Defender puzzle 1, rated 844a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 1 · rated 844 · White to play after Nxd5
    Show solution

    Nxd5 Qxd5 Bxb4

  2. Capturing the Defender puzzle 2, rated 895a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 895 · White to play after Rxe4
    Show solution

    Rxe4 dxe4 Rxc4

  3. Capturing the Defender puzzle 3, rated 920h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 920 · Black to play after Re7
    Show solution

    Bxf1 Kxf1 Rxf3+

  4. Capturing the Defender puzzle 4, rated 958a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 958 · White to play after Qxb6
    Show solution

    Qxb6 axb6 Rxc7

  5. Capturing the Defender puzzle 5, rated 911h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 5 · rated 911 · Black to play after Rg3
    Show solution

    Rxg3 fxg3 Qxf3+

  6. Capturing the Defender puzzle 6, rated 952a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 952 · White to play after Nd3
    Show solution

    Nxe7 Nxe1 Rxf8

  7. Capturing the Defender puzzle 7, rated 887h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 7 · rated 887 · Black to play after Rxc4
    Show solution

    dxc4 Rc1 Rxc7

  8. Capturing the Defender puzzle 8, rated 973h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 8 · rated 973 · Black to play after Rxa6
    Show solution

    Qxd5 cxd5 Rxb7

  9. Capturing the Defender puzzle 9, rated 996h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 996 · Black to play after Bxf6
    Show solution

    Rxe6 fxe6 Rxf6

  10. Capturing the Defender puzzle 10, rated 951a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 951 · White to play after Nxd5
    Show solution

    Nxd5 Qxd5 Qxe7

Train capturing the defender puzzles at your rating →

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Frequently asked questions

What is a capturing the defender in chess?

Capturing the defender removes the piece that holds the position together. The material trade is often equal or even losing on its face — the point is what becomes undefended a move later.

What does a puzzle rating of 800 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 800 is one that players rated around 800 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 929, so they suit 800-rated players.

Are these capturing the defender 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.