Skewer Chess Puzzles — Rated 600

10 skewers rated between 400 and 799, averaging 732. 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 beginners. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 600 is one that players around 600 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 600

  1. Skewer puzzle 1, rated 741h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 741 · Black to play after Kb2
    Show solution

    Rxa2+ Kb1 Rxd2

  2. Skewer puzzle 2, rated 765h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 2 · rated 765 · Black to play after Kxc3
    Show solution

    Rc1+ Kb4 Rxc7

  3. Skewer puzzle 3, rated 710a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 710 · White to play after Kf6
    Show solution

    Bg5+ Ke6 Bxd8

  4. Skewer puzzle 4, rated 726a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 726 · White to play after Rd2
    Show solution

    Rd7+ Ke5 Rxd2

  5. Skewer puzzle 5, rated 647a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 647 · White to play after Bxh1
    Show solution

    Rxb8+ Ke7 Rxh8

  6. Skewer puzzle 6, rated 700h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 6 · rated 700 · Black to play after h5
    Show solution

    Ra7+ Kxe6 Rxg7

  7. Skewer puzzle 7, rated 745a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 745 · White to play after Rxf8
    Show solution

    Rxf8+ Ke5 Rxf3

  8. Skewer puzzle 8, rated 749a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 749 · White to play after Qxf6
    Show solution

    Qh7+ Kf8 Qh8+ Ke7 Qxa8

  9. Skewer puzzle 9, rated 784h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 784 · Black to play after h7
    Show solution

    Rg1+ Ke2 Re1+ Kf3 Rxe6

  10. Skewer puzzle 10, rated 756a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 756 · White to play after Rxa6
    Show solution

    Rh6+ Ke7 Rxa6

Train skewer puzzles at your rating →

Related puzzle sets

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 600 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 600 is one that players rated around 600 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 732, so they suit beginners.

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.