Exposed King Chess Puzzles — Rated 1600

10 exposed king positions rated between 1600 and 1799, averaging 1656. 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.

An exposed king with no pawn cover is a target for every piece on the board. These puzzles are about finding the forcing sequence rather than accumulating advantage.

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.

Exposed King puzzles rated 1600

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

    g4+ Kh2 Kf2 a5 g3+ Kh3 g2

  2. Exposed King puzzle 2, rated 1614h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 2 · rated 1614 · Black to play after Qd2
    Show solution

    Nxc2+ Ke2 Qxd2+ Kxd2 Nxa1

  3. Exposed King puzzle 3, rated 1612h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 1612 · Black to play after Rxd2
    Show solution

    Qb1+ Ke2 Rxd2+ Kxd2 Qxg1

  4. Exposed King puzzle 4, rated 1710a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 1710 · White to play after Rg8
    Show solution

    Qg7+ Rxg7 hxg7+ Kg8 Rh8#

  5. Exposed King puzzle 5, rated 1700h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 5 · rated 1700 · Black to play after Rd3
    Show solution

    Re1+ Bxe1 Rxe1+ Kh2 Rh1#

  6. Exposed King puzzle 6, rated 1612h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 6 · rated 1612 · Black to play after Rd8
    Show solution

    Qxg2+ Kf4 g5+ Ke4 Re2+

  7. Exposed King puzzle 7, rated 1607h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 7 · rated 1607 · Black to play after h7
    Show solution

    Rh4+ Kg2 Rg4+ Kf2 Rxg1 h8=Q c1=Q

  8. Exposed King puzzle 8, rated 1710h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 8 · rated 1710 · Black to play after Rdf1
    Show solution

    Rf3+ Rg3 Qxf1+ Qxf1 Rxf1

  9. Exposed King puzzle 9, rated 1678a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 1678 · White to play after Qc7
    Show solution

    Ra8+ Kb7 Ra7+ Kxa7 Qxc7+

  10. Exposed King puzzle 10, rated 1701h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 1701 · Black to play after Ke3
    Show solution

    Rxc3+ Rxc3 d4+ Kd2 dxc3+

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Frequently asked questions

What is a exposed king in chess?

An exposed king with no pawn cover is a target for every piece on the board. These puzzles are about finding the forcing sequence rather than accumulating advantage.

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 1656, so they suit 1600-rated players.

Are these exposed king 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.