Sacrifice Chess Puzzles — Rated 1600

10 sacrifices rated between 1600 and 1799, averaging 1663. 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 1600-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 1600 is one that players around 1600 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 1600

  1. Sacrifice puzzle 1, rated 1619h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 1619 · Black to play after Kg1
    Show solution

    Rh1+ Kxh1 Qh7+ Rh5 Qxh5+ Kg1 Qh2+ Kf1 Qh1#

  2. Sacrifice puzzle 2, rated 1655h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 2 · rated 1655 · Black to play after Kg3
    Show solution

    Qg2+ Kxh4 Qh2#

  3. Sacrifice puzzle 3, rated 1710a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 1710 · White to play after Rg8
    Show solution

    Qg7+ Rxg7 hxg7+ Kg8 Rh8#

  4. Sacrifice puzzle 4, rated 1617h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 1617 · Black to play after Rd1
    Show solution

    Rxc2 Qxc2 Be4

  5. Sacrifice puzzle 5, rated 1700h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 5 · rated 1700 · Black to play after Rd3
    Show solution

    Re1+ Bxe1 Rxe1+ Kh2 Rh1#

  6. Sacrifice puzzle 6, rated 1682h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 6 · rated 1682 · Black to play after Bxd3
    Show solution

    Qxb2+ Kxb2 Nxd3+ Kb3 Nxe1

  7. Sacrifice puzzle 7, rated 1695a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 1695 · White to play after Qd7
    Show solution

    Rf7 Qxf7 Re7+ Kb8 Rxf7

  8. Sacrifice puzzle 8, rated 1666h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 8 · rated 1666 · Black to play after Ne7
    Show solution

    Qxg2+ Rxg2 Re1+ Rg1 Rxg1#

  9. Sacrifice puzzle 9, rated 1607h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 1607 · Black to play after Rc4
    Show solution

    Bb6 Rxc8 Bxe3+ Kd1 Kxc8

  10. Sacrifice puzzle 10, rated 1677h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 1677 · Black to play after Rae1
    Show solution

    Qxe1+ Rxe1 Nf3+ Kf1 Nxh4

Train sacrifice puzzles at your rating →

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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 1600 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 1600 is one that players rated around 1600 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 1663, so they suit 1600-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.