Hanging Piece Chess Puzzles — Rated 1600

10 hanging pieces rated between 1600 and 1799, averaging 1675. 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 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.

Hanging Piece puzzles rated 1600

  1. Hanging Piece puzzle 1, rated 1695h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 1695 · Black to play after Qxf6
    Show solution

    Qxa1+ Bf1 Qxf1+ Kxf1 Rb1#

  2. Hanging Piece puzzle 2, rated 1652h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 2 · rated 1652 · Black to play after Rxd4
    Show solution

    Qxh1+ Rd1 Rf1 Qxd5+ Qxd5

  3. Hanging Piece puzzle 3, rated 1707h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 1707 · Black to play after Bh3
    Show solution

    Qxh3+ Kg1 Qh2+ Kf1 Qxf2#

  4. Hanging Piece puzzle 4, rated 1615a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 1615 · White to play after Rxd4
    Show solution

    Qxd4 Qa1+ Kd2 Nb3+ cxb3

  5. Hanging Piece puzzle 5, rated 1727h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 5 · rated 1727 · Black to play after Rxd5
    Show solution

    Nxe1+ Kf1 exd5

  6. Hanging Piece puzzle 6, rated 1658h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 6 · rated 1658 · Black to play after Qxe5
    Show solution

    Qxd1+ Kg2 Qxh1+ Kxh1 Rxe5

  7. Hanging Piece puzzle 7, rated 1622a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 1622 · White to play after Rf2
    Show solution

    Kxg6 Rxf4 h8=Q

  8. Hanging Piece puzzle 8, rated 1613h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 8 · rated 1613 · Black to play after Kc3
    Show solution

    Nxe8 Kc4 Nd6+

  9. Hanging Piece puzzle 9, rated 1751h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 1751 · Black to play after Kf2
    Show solution

    Nxd3+ Ke2 Ne5

  10. Hanging Piece puzzle 10, rated 1706h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 1706 · Black to play after cxb6
    Show solution

    Kxd6 b7 Kc7 b8=Q+ Kxb8

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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 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 1675, so they suit 1600-rated players.

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.