Hanging Piece Chess Puzzles — Rated 800

10 hanging pieces rated between 800 and 999, averaging 892. 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 800 is one that players around 800 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 800

  1. Hanging Piece puzzle 1, rated 973h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 973 · Black to play after Re2
    Show solution

    Nxa1 Rxb2 Nxb2

  2. Hanging Piece puzzle 2, rated 870h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 2 · rated 870 · Black to play after Bxc5
    Show solution

    Rxc5 Rxd8 Rxd8

  3. Hanging Piece puzzle 3, rated 964a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 964 · White to play after Qxd6
    Show solution

    Qxd6#

  4. Hanging Piece puzzle 4, rated 827h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 827 · Black to play after Rxd3
    Show solution

    Rxf1#

  5. Hanging Piece puzzle 5, rated 901a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 901 · White to play after Rf2+
    Show solution

    Kxf2 Qg2+ Ke3 Qf3+ Kd4

  6. Hanging Piece puzzle 6, rated 915a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 915 · White to play after Bxd7
    Show solution

    Rxd7 d1=R Rxd1

  7. Hanging Piece puzzle 7, rated 800h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 7 · rated 800 · Black to play after Nxd8
    Show solution

    Qxe1+ Rd1 Qxd1#

  8. Hanging Piece puzzle 8, rated 944a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 944 · White to play after a3
    Show solution

    Kxb7 a2 Be5 a1=R Bxa1

  9. Hanging Piece puzzle 9, rated 841h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 841 · Black to play after Bxe5
    Show solution

    Nxd3+ Kd2 Nxe5

  10. Hanging Piece puzzle 10, rated 881h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 881 · Black to play after Kb1
    Show solution

    Rxd1#

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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 800 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 800 is one that players rated around 800 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 892, 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.