Hanging Piece Chess Puzzles — Rated 1000

10 hanging pieces rated between 1000 and 1199, averaging 1100. 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 hanging piece is undefended and attackable. Missing them is the most common way material is lost below 1600, and finding them is mostly a habit: after every opponent move, check what is now undefended rather than only looking at what is attacked.

These are pitched at beginners. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 1000 is one that players around 1000 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.

Hanging Piece puzzles rated 1000

  1. Hanging Piece puzzle 1, rated 1043a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 1 · rated 1043 · White to play after hxg6
    Show solution

    Rxh8+ Kd7 Rxb8

  2. Hanging Piece puzzle 2, rated 1101a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 1101 · White to play after Kf8
    Show solution

    Bxf6 Nd6+ Ke5

  3. Hanging Piece puzzle 3, rated 1119h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 1119 · Black to play after Bxg5
    Show solution

    Qxh1#

  4. Hanging Piece puzzle 4, rated 1005a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 1005 · White to play after Rxe6
    Show solution

    Nxc7 Rxe1+ Rxe1

  5. Hanging Piece puzzle 5, rated 1069h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 5 · rated 1069 · Black to play after Rh2
    Show solution

    Qxf1#

  6. Hanging Piece puzzle 6, rated 1092a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 1092 · White to play after Rfa8
    Show solution

    Qxf3 Ra2+ Kc1 Ra1+ Kd2

  7. Hanging Piece puzzle 7, rated 1171a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 1171 · White to play after Qxd1
    Show solution

    Nxg6#

  8. Hanging Piece puzzle 8, rated 1184h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 8 · rated 1184 · Black to play after Rxf5
    Show solution

    Rxf5 d7 Rd5+ Kc3 Rxd7

  9. Hanging Piece puzzle 9, rated 1169a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 1169 · White to play after Kxa1
    Show solution

    Nxa4 Kb1 Nc3+ Kb2 Nxa2

  10. Hanging Piece puzzle 10, rated 1047h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 1047 · Black to play after Rxf2
    Show solution

    Qxc1+ Rf1 Qxf1#

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Frequently asked questions

What is a hanging piece in chess?

A hanging piece is undefended and attackable. Missing them is the most common way material is lost below 1600, and finding them is mostly a habit: after every opponent move, check what is now undefended rather than only looking at what is attacked.

What does a puzzle rating of 1000 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 1000 is one that players rated around 1000 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 1100, so they suit beginners.

Are these hanging piece 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.