Sacrifice Chess Puzzles — Rated 1800

10 sacrifices rated between 1800 and 1999, averaging 1875. 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 1800-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 1800 is one that players around 1800 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 1800

  1. Sacrifice puzzle 1, rated 1865h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 1865 · Black to play after Kb1
    Show solution

    Nd2+ Qxd2 Rf1+ Qc1 Rfxc1#

  2. Sacrifice puzzle 2, rated 1912a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 1912 · White to play after Bxd4
    Show solution

    Qxf7+ Rxf7 Rxc8+ Qd8 Rxd8+ Rf8 Rfxf8#

  3. Sacrifice puzzle 3, rated 1884a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 1884 · White to play after Qxf6
    Show solution

    Qh7+ Kf8 Qh8+ Ke7 Qxd8+ Kxd8 dxe5+ Ke7 exf6+

  4. Sacrifice puzzle 4, rated 1845h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 1845 · Black to play after Nxd4
    Show solution

    Rh1+ Nxh1 Rxh1+ Kxh1 Qh4+ Kg1 Qh2+ Kf1 Qh1#

  5. Sacrifice puzzle 5, rated 1974h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 5 · rated 1974 · Black to play after Qxb7
    Show solution

    Bxh2+ Kxh2 Qh4+ Kg1 Rxe1+ Rxe1 Qxe1+

  6. Sacrifice puzzle 6, rated 1833a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 1833 · White to play after Kd4
    Show solution

    f4 gxf4 g5 hxg5 h6

  7. Sacrifice puzzle 7, rated 1815a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 1815 · White to play after e2
    Show solution

    Ng6+ hxg6 Rh3+ Bxh3 Qxh3+ Qh4 Qxh4#

  8. Sacrifice puzzle 8, rated 1826h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 8 · rated 1826 · Black to play after Rc3
    Show solution

    Qxc3 Qxc3 b2

  9. Sacrifice puzzle 9, rated 1971a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 1971 · White to play after Kh6
    Show solution

    Rg6+ Kxh7 Qxf7+ Kh8 Rh6#

  10. Sacrifice puzzle 10, rated 1822a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 1822 · White to play after Rxc3
    Show solution

    Rh7+ Kxh7 Qf7+ Kh8 Qxg8#

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 1800 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 1800 is one that players rated around 1800 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 1875, so they suit 1800-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.