Hanging Piece Chess Puzzles — Rated 2000

10 hanging pieces rated between 2000 and 2199, averaging 2111. 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 2000-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 2000 is one that players around 2000 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 2000

  1. Hanging Piece puzzle 1, rated 2161a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 1 · rated 2161 · White to play after Bxg2+
    Show solution

    Rxg2 Qh4+ Kg1 Qxe1+ Qf1 Qxf1+ Kxf1

  2. Hanging Piece puzzle 2, rated 2174a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 2174 · White to play after Rf3+
    Show solution

    Kxf3 Qf1+ Kg3 exd4+ Qxc7

  3. Hanging Piece puzzle 3, rated 2194h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 2194 · Black to play after Bxh7+
    Show solution

    Kxh7 Qd3+ Qe4

  4. Hanging Piece puzzle 4, rated 2174a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 2174 · White to play after Nxe5
    Show solution

    Nxe5 Qf6 Nxd7 Bxf2+ Kh1

  5. Hanging Piece puzzle 5, rated 2053h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 5 · rated 2053 · Black to play after Nf7
    Show solution

    Qxa1 Qh8+ Kg6 Ne5+ Qxe5

  6. Hanging Piece puzzle 6, rated 2041a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 2041 · White to play after Kg7
    Show solution

    Nxd5 c2 Be5+

  7. Hanging Piece puzzle 7, rated 2033a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 2033 · White to play after Kf4
    Show solution

    Nxb7 c3 Nc5 c2 Nb3

  8. Hanging Piece puzzle 8, rated 2142h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 8 · rated 2142 · Black to play after Kxf4
    Show solution

    Qxd2+ Kg3 Rh3#

  9. Hanging Piece puzzle 9, rated 2006h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 2006 · Black to play after Rxb7
    Show solution

    Nxb7 a6 Na5

  10. Hanging Piece puzzle 10, rated 2133h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 2133 · Black to play after Qb8
    Show solution

    Qxc6 Rg8+ Kf6

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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 2000 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 2000 is one that players rated around 2000 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 2111, so they suit 2000-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.