Sacrifice Chess Puzzles — Rated 1200

10 sacrifices rated between 1200 and 1399, averaging 1318. 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 sacrifice gives up material for something concrete: a mating attack, a decisive pawn, or a position the opponent cannot hold. The distinction that matters is between a sacrifice you can calculate to a finish and one you cannot — these puzzles are the first kind, so every line can be verified to the end.

These are pitched at 1200-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 1200 is one that players around 1200 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.

Sacrifice puzzles rated 1200

  1. Sacrifice puzzle 1, rated 1261a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 1 · rated 1261 · White to play after a6
    Show solution

    bxa6 Rxc6 a7

  2. Sacrifice puzzle 2, rated 1380a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 1380 · White to play after Bxc2
    Show solution

    Rxd8+ Rxd8 Qe8+ Rxe8 Rxe8#

  3. Sacrifice puzzle 3, rated 1320h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 1320 · Black to play after Rce1
    Show solution

    Qxh2+ Kxh2 Rh6#

  4. Sacrifice puzzle 4, rated 1338h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 1338 · Black to play after Qc5
    Show solution

    Qf1+ Rxf1 Rxf1#

  5. Sacrifice puzzle 5, rated 1343a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 1343 · White to play after Kh8
    Show solution

    Qxh6+ gxh6 Rxh6+ Kg7 Rh7#

  6. Sacrifice puzzle 6, rated 1305a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 1305 · White to play after Nc4
    Show solution

    Qh7+ Kf6 Qxf7+ Kxg5 Qf4#

  7. Sacrifice puzzle 7, rated 1359a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 1359 · White to play after Qxc6
    Show solution

    Rxh5+ gxh5 Rxh5+ Kg8 Rh8#

  8. Sacrifice puzzle 8, rated 1292a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 1292 · White to play after Qxe1
    Show solution

    Ng6+ hxg6 Qh4#

  9. Sacrifice puzzle 9, rated 1265a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 1265 · White to play after Nxc3
    Show solution

    Ng6+ hxg6 hxg6+ Nh5 Rxh5#

  10. Sacrifice puzzle 10, rated 1313a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 1313 · White to play after Bd7
    Show solution

    Qxh7+ Kxh7 Rh4#

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Frequently asked questions

What is a sacrifice in chess?

A sacrifice gives up material for something concrete: a mating attack, a decisive pawn, or a position the opponent cannot hold. The distinction that matters is between a sacrifice you can calculate to a finish and one you cannot — these puzzles are the first kind, so every line can be verified to the end.

What does a puzzle rating of 1200 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 1200 is one that players rated around 1200 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 1318, so they suit 1200-rated players.

Are these sacrifice 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.