Hanging Piece Chess Puzzles — Rated 1200

10 hanging pieces rated between 1200 and 1399, averaging 1310. 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 1200 is one that players around 1200 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 1200

  1. Hanging Piece puzzle 1, rated 1265h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 1265 · Black to play after Qxd7
    Show solution

    Qxd7 Rf8+ Kg7 Rf7+ Qxf7

  2. Hanging Piece puzzle 2, rated 1289h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 2 · rated 1289 · Black to play after Kh5
    Show solution

    Qxh1+ Kg6 Qxh6+ Kxh6 d4

  3. Hanging Piece puzzle 3, rated 1328h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 1328 · Black to play after f4
    Show solution

    Rxe3+ Kg2 Kxf4

  4. Hanging Piece puzzle 4, rated 1320h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 1320 · Black to play after Rxc7
    Show solution

    Rxc7 f8=Q c1=Q+

  5. Hanging Piece puzzle 5, rated 1210h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 5 · rated 1210 · Black to play after Qxc3
    Show solution

    Qxd1+ Qe1 Qxe1#

  6. Hanging Piece puzzle 6, rated 1348h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 6 · rated 1348 · Black to play after Qxh2
    Show solution

    Qxg5+ Kf2 Ng4+

  7. Hanging Piece puzzle 7, rated 1210h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 7 · rated 1210 · Black to play after Rc6+
    Show solution

    Kxc6 Be4+ Bd5

  8. Hanging Piece puzzle 8, rated 1386a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 1386 · White to play after Nd6
    Show solution

    Rxh4#

  9. Hanging Piece puzzle 9, rated 1378a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 1378 · White to play after Qxh3+
    Show solution

    Qxh3 Rh8 Rh7 Rxh7 Qxh7

  10. Hanging Piece puzzle 10, rated 1362h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 1362 · Black to play after Rxe4
    Show solution

    Bxe4 Rd2 Qe1+ Kh2 Qxd2

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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 1200 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 1200 is one that players rated around 1200 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 1310, 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.