Hanging Piece Chess Puzzles — Rated 1800

10 hanging pieces rated between 1800 and 1999, averaging 1853. 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 1800-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 1800 is one that players around 1800 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 1800

  1. Hanging Piece puzzle 1, rated 1804a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 1 · rated 1804 · White to play after Qf4
    Show solution

    Qxe8#

  2. Hanging Piece puzzle 2, rated 1832h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 2 · rated 1832 · Black to play after Rxe5
    Show solution

    Bxe5 Kc4 Bd6 b4 cxb4

  3. Hanging Piece puzzle 3, rated 1892h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 1892 · Black to play after Rxg7
    Show solution

    Qxe6 Rxg8+ Rxg8

  4. Hanging Piece puzzle 4, rated 1916a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 1916 · White to play after Bxc4
    Show solution

    bxc4 Rxb1 Bxb1

  5. Hanging Piece puzzle 5, rated 1836h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 5 · rated 1836 · Black to play after Rg6
    Show solution

    Qxe3+ Kc2 Rf2+ Qxf2 Qxf2+

  6. Hanging Piece puzzle 6, rated 1801a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 1801 · White to play after Bxg3
    Show solution

    Rxd7+ Kg8 Rd8+ Kh7 R1d7+ Kh6 Rxh8#

  7. Hanging Piece puzzle 7, rated 1879a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 1879 · White to play after e3
    Show solution

    fxg7 e2 Bb4

  8. Hanging Piece puzzle 8, rated 1904h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 8 · rated 1904 · Black to play after Rxg7
    Show solution

    Kxg7 Rg3+ Kh7 Ne4 Bxe4 Qxe4+ Kh8

  9. Hanging Piece puzzle 9, rated 1813h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 1813 · Black to play after Rxe7+
    Show solution

    Kxg6 Rxg7+ Qxg7

  10. Hanging Piece puzzle 10, rated 1856h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 1856 · Black to play after Rxa7
    Show solution

    Bxg5+ Kc2 bxc4 Rxa8 Rxa8

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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 1800 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 1800 is one that players rated around 1800 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 1853, so they suit 1800-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.