Skewer Chess Puzzles — Rated 2200+

10 skewers rated between 2200 and 3500, averaging 2357. 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 2200+-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 2200+ is one that players around 2200+ 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 2200+

  1. Skewer puzzle 1, rated 2281h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 2281 · Black to play after Qxd6
    Show solution

    Qf5+ Qd3 Qxd3+ Rxd3 Ra1+ Kc2 Rxg1

  2. Skewer puzzle 2, rated 2432a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 2432 · White to play after f6
    Show solution

    Rxg6+ hxg6 Qh8+ Kf7 Rh7+ Ke8 Rxe7+ Kxe7 Qg7+

  3. Skewer puzzle 3, rated 2257a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 2257 · White to play after Kh5
    Show solution

    Rg8 Kxh6 Rh8+ Kg5 Rxh2

  4. Skewer puzzle 4, rated 2404a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 2404 · White to play after dxc2
    Show solution

    Rxf6+ gxf6 Qg4+ Kf7 Qxd7+

  5. Skewer puzzle 5, rated 2581a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 2581 · White to play after hxg6
    Show solution

    Rh8+ Kf7 Rh7+ Kg8 Rxe7

  6. Skewer puzzle 6, rated 2217a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 2217 · White to play after Qf7
    Show solution

    Qa6+ Kd7 Rb7+ Ke6 Rxf7

  7. Skewer puzzle 7, rated 2300a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 2300 · White to play after Qxf4
    Show solution

    Bxd5+ cxd5 Re8+ Kf7 Rf8+ Ke7 Rxf4

  8. Skewer puzzle 8, rated 2286h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 8 · rated 2286 · Black to play after Qc3
    Show solution

    Qxf2+ Kxh3 Bd7+ g4 Bxg4+ Kxg4 Qh4+ Kf3 Qh3+ Ke2 Qxc3

  9. Skewer puzzle 9, rated 2494h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 2494 · Black to play after Kxh5
    Show solution

    Qe7 Kg4 Qg5+ Kf3 Qd5+ Kxf4 Qxg2

  10. Skewer puzzle 10, rated 2321h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 2321 · Black to play after Qg8
    Show solution

    Rxh2+ Kxh2 Qd2+ Kg3 Qxe1+ Kxg4 Qg1+ Kxf3 Qxg8

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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 2200+ mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 2200+ is one that players rated around 2200+ solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 2357, so they suit 2200+-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.