Hanging Piece Chess Puzzles — Rated 2200+

10 hanging pieces rated between 2200 and 3500, averaging 2457. 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 2200+-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 2200+ is one that players around 2200+ 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 2200+

  1. Hanging Piece puzzle 1, rated 2348a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 1 · rated 2348 · White to play after Rxe5
    Show solution

    Qxa8+ Kg7 f4 Be4 Qxe4 Rxe4 fxg5

  2. Hanging Piece puzzle 2, rated 2420a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 2420 · White to play after Bxf3
    Show solution

    Qxf3 Qxe6 Qxf4

  3. Hanging Piece puzzle 3, rated 2300h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 2300 · Black to play after Ke4
    Show solution

    Nxb4 Kf5 Kd5 Kxg5 Ke4

  4. Hanging Piece puzzle 4, rated 2348h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 2348 · Black to play after e5+
    Show solution

    Kxd5 c7 h2 Kg2 f3+ Kxh2 Bxe5+

  5. Hanging Piece puzzle 5, rated 2791a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 2791 · White to play after b4
    Show solution

    Kxd7 Kb5 Nd4+ Kc4 Nc6 b3 Na5+ Kd4 Nxb3+

  6. Hanging Piece puzzle 6, rated 2413a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 2413 · White to play after Ng3
    Show solution

    Qxe5+ Qe7 Qxe7+ Kxe7 d4 Bd6 Rh2

  7. Hanging Piece puzzle 7, rated 2383h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 7 · rated 2383 · Black to play after Bxb4
    Show solution

    Bxb4 Rxd7 Qxd7 Qf6 Bd2+ Kb1 Bxh6

  8. Hanging Piece puzzle 8, rated 2514h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 8 · rated 2514 · Black to play after Rxg2+
    Show solution

    Kxg2 Kc4 Be7

  9. Hanging Piece puzzle 9, rated 2536h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 2536 · Black to play after Nxf4
    Show solution

    Kxf4 Kd6 Nb5+ Kxe6 Ke4 Kd7 Kd5

  10. Hanging Piece puzzle 10, rated 2519a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 2519 · White to play after Re8
    Show solution

    fxg5 Nd3 Qf3 Nf2+ Rxf2 Qxf2 Qxf2

Train hanging piece puzzles at your rating →

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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 2200+ mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 2200+ is one that players rated around 2200+ solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 2457, so they suit 2200+-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.