Endgame Chess Puzzles — Rated 1600

10 endgame puzzles rated between 1600 and 1799, averaging 1627. 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.

Endgame puzzles reward technique over calculation: king activity, passed pawns, and knowing which positions are theoretically won. This is the phase where study translates most directly into rating points.

These are pitched at 1600-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 1600 is one that players around 1600 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.

Endgame puzzles rated 1600

  1. Endgame puzzle 1, rated 1618h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 1618 · Black to play after b5
    Show solution

    g4+ Kh2 Kf2 a5 g3+ Kh3 g2

  2. Endgame puzzle 2, rated 1628h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 2 · rated 1628 · Black to play after Qxe7
    Show solution

    Qf1+ Kh2 Rxg2#

  3. Endgame puzzle 3, rated 1607a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 1607 · White to play after Bxg5
    Show solution

    Re8+ Rxe8 dxe8=Q#

  4. Endgame puzzle 4, rated 1619h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 1619 · Black to play after Kg1
    Show solution

    Rh1+ Kxh1 Qh7+ Rh5 Qxh5+ Kg1 Qh2+ Kf1 Qh1#

  5. Endgame puzzle 5, rated 1655h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 5 · rated 1655 · Black to play after Kg3
    Show solution

    Qg2+ Kxh4 Qh2#

  6. Endgame puzzle 6, rated 1611a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 1611 · White to play after a4
    Show solution

    e5+ Kxe5 d6 Rb2 Rxb2

  7. Endgame puzzle 7, rated 1656h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 7 · rated 1656 · Black to play after Ke4
    Show solution

    Bc6+ Kf5 Rd5+ Ke6 Rxh5

  8. Endgame puzzle 8, rated 1638a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 1638 · White to play after Kh7
    Show solution

    Rxh5+ Kg6 Qg4#

  9. Endgame puzzle 9, rated 1603h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 1603 · Black to play after Re3
    Show solution

    Kd4 Rxd3+ Kxd3

  10. Endgame puzzle 10, rated 1635h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 1635 · Black to play after Kh3
    Show solution

    Qxh5+ Kg2 Qd5+ Kf2 Qxa8

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Frequently asked questions

What is a endgame in chess?

Endgame puzzles reward technique over calculation: king activity, passed pawns, and knowing which positions are theoretically won. This is the phase where study translates most directly into rating points.

What does a puzzle rating of 1600 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 1600 is one that players rated around 1600 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 1627, so they suit 1600-rated players.

Are these endgame 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.