Sacrifice Chess Puzzles — Rated 1400

10 sacrifices rated between 1400 and 1599, averaging 1452. 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 1400-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 1400 is one that players around 1400 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 1400

  1. Sacrifice puzzle 1, rated 1453h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 1453 · Black to play after Rg1
    Show solution

    Rxh3+ Kxh3 Rh4#

  2. Sacrifice puzzle 2, rated 1496a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 1496 · White to play after gxf3
    Show solution

    Nxg6+ fxg6 Qg8#

  3. Sacrifice puzzle 3, rated 1555a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 1555 · White to play after Ra4+
    Show solution

    Qxa4 Nxa4 Ne7+ Kd7 Nxg6

  4. Sacrifice puzzle 4, rated 1422h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 1422 · Black to play after Nxg5
    Show solution

    Qg2+ Kxh4 Qh2+ Qh3 Bxg5+ Kxg5 Qxh3

  5. Sacrifice puzzle 5, rated 1429a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 1429 · White to play after Nxe4
    Show solution

    Rxh7+ Kxh7 Qh5#

  6. Sacrifice puzzle 6, rated 1411a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 1411 · White to play after Kg7
    Show solution

    Rxh7+ Kxh7 Rh1+ Kg7 Qh8#

  7. Sacrifice puzzle 7, rated 1479h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 7 · rated 1479 · Black to play after Nf3
    Show solution

    Qxf2+ Rxf2 Rd1+ Ne1 Rxe1#

  8. Sacrifice puzzle 8, rated 1404a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 1404 · White to play after Nxf1
    Show solution

    Qe8+ Rxe8 Rxe8#

  9. Sacrifice puzzle 9, rated 1418h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 1418 · Black to play after Nd4+
    Show solution

    Rxd4+ Kxd4 Nb5+ Ke3 Nxc7

  10. Sacrifice puzzle 10, rated 1451a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 1451 · White to play after Bh4
    Show solution

    Qxg7+ Rxg7 Rxg7#

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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 1400 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 1400 is one that players rated around 1400 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 1452, so they suit 1400-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.