Skewer Chess Puzzles — Rated 2000

10 skewers rated between 2000 and 2199, averaging 2065. 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 skewer is a pin turned around: the valuable piece is in front, and when it moves the piece behind it falls. Skewers usually appear on open lines and long diagonals, which is why they are far more common in the endgame than in the opening.

These are pitched at 2000-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 2000 is one that players around 2000 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.

Skewer puzzles rated 2000

  1. Skewer puzzle 1, rated 2049h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 2049 · Black to play after Qxd5
    Show solution

    Qg1+ Ke2 Nf4+ Kf3 Qg2+ Kxf4 Qxd5

  2. Skewer puzzle 2, rated 2101a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 2101 · White to play after h2
    Show solution

    Qh8+ Kc7 Qd8+ Kc6 Qc8+ Kd5 Qxb7+ Ke6 Qxg2

  3. Skewer puzzle 3, rated 2041h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 2041 · Black to play after Qxe4
    Show solution

    Bf7 Qxb7 Rxe1+

  4. Skewer puzzle 4, rated 2016a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 2016 · White to play after Nxe3
    Show solution

    Rf7+ Kc6 Rc7+ Kxd6 Rxc5

  5. Skewer puzzle 5, rated 2019a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 2019 · White to play after c2
    Show solution

    h8=Q c1=Q Qc8+ Kd5 Qxc1

  6. Skewer puzzle 6, rated 2031a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 2031 · White to play after Rh2
    Show solution

    Rxg7+ Ke8 Rg8+ Kf7 Rxb8

  7. Skewer puzzle 7, rated 2090a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 2090 · White to play after Kxg6
    Show solution

    Reg8+ Rg7 Be8+ Kg5 Rxh5+ Kf4 Rxf5+ Kxf5 Rxg7

  8. Skewer puzzle 8, rated 2101a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 2101 · White to play after Rb3
    Show solution

    Rxc2 Qd7 Rc8+ Qxc8 Qh8+ Ke7 Qxc8

  9. Skewer puzzle 9, rated 2045a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 2045 · White to play after g6
    Show solution

    Qxh7+ Kf6 Ne4+ Rxe4 Qh4+ Kg7 Qxd8

  10. Skewer puzzle 10, rated 2155h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 2155 · Black to play after Kc1
    Show solution

    Rh1+ Rg1 Rxg1+ Rxg1 Qa1+ Kd2 Qxg1

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Frequently asked questions

What is a skewer in chess?

A skewer is a pin turned around: the valuable piece is in front, and when it moves the piece behind it falls. Skewers usually appear on open lines and long diagonals, which is why they are far more common in the endgame than in the opening.

What does a puzzle rating of 2000 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 2000 is one that players rated around 2000 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 2065, so they suit 2000-rated players.

Are these skewer 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.