Exposed King Chess Puzzles — Rated 2200+

10 exposed king positions rated between 2200 and 3500, averaging 2276. 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 2200+-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 2200+ is one that players around 2200+ 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 2200+

  1. Exposed King puzzle 1, rated 2210a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 1 · rated 2210 · White to play after Kf8
    Show solution

    Rxg7 Rxg7 Qxf6+ Ke8 Qxg7

  2. Exposed King puzzle 2, rated 2324h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 2 · rated 2324 · Black to play after Kf1
    Show solution

    Nf3 Rh2 Ra1+ Kg2 Rg1+ Kh3 g4#

  3. Exposed King puzzle 3, rated 2256h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 2256 · Black to play after Bc4
    Show solution

    d3+ Bxd3 d1=Q+ Kxd1 Kxd3 Kc1 c2 Kb2 Kd2

  4. Exposed King puzzle 4, rated 2203a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 2203 · White to play after h4
    Show solution

    b6+ Kd8 Kd6 Nd4 c7+ Kc8 b7+ Kxb7 Kd7 Kb6 c8=Q

  5. Exposed King puzzle 5, rated 2483a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 2483 · White to play after Bxg3+
    Show solution

    Kg1 Bh2+ Kh1 Qh6 d8=Q+ Kg7 Qxf7+

  6. Exposed King puzzle 6, rated 2202h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 6 · rated 2202 · Black to play after bxc3
    Show solution

    Qa3+ Kd1 Qa4+ Ke1 d2+

  7. Exposed King puzzle 7, rated 2219a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 2219 · White to play after Rb3
    Show solution

    Rh8+ Kc7 d6+ Kc6 Rc8+

  8. Exposed King puzzle 8, rated 2264h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 8 · rated 2264 · Black to play after Rd2
    Show solution

    Rxd4 Rxd4 Nc2+ Kb2 Qxa2+ Kxa2 Nxd4

  9. Exposed King puzzle 9, rated 2201a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 2201 · White to play after Rxc1
    Show solution

    Rf6+ Kxg5 Ne4+ Kh5 g4+ Kh4 Rh6#

  10. Exposed King puzzle 10, rated 2400a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 2400 · White to play after Re7
    Show solution

    h4 g5 Rh8+ Kg7 hxg5

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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 2200+ mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 2200+ is one that players rated around 2200+ solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 2276, so they suit 2200+-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.