Skewer Chess Puzzles — Rated 800

10 skewers rated between 800 and 999, averaging 919. 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 800 is one that players around 800 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 800

  1. Skewer puzzle 1, rated 998h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 998 · Black to play after Kh3
    Show solution

    Rh6+ Kg4 Rg6+ Kf5 Rxg3

  2. Skewer puzzle 2, rated 902h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 2 · rated 902 · Black to play after Nd6
    Show solution

    Rb2+ Kd1 Rb1+ Kc2 Rxh1

  3. Skewer puzzle 3, rated 835h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 835 · Black to play after Ke4
    Show solution

    Re6+ Kf4 Rxe3

  4. Skewer puzzle 4, rated 985h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 985 · Black to play after Bd5
    Show solution

    Rg5+ Kf4 Rxd5

  5. Skewer puzzle 5, rated 963a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 963 · White to play after Ra7
    Show solution

    Rg8+ Ke7 Rg7+ Kd6 Rxa7

  6. Skewer puzzle 6, rated 911a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 911 · White to play after c5
    Show solution

    Bg4+ Kg5 Bxc8

  7. Skewer puzzle 7, rated 824a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 824 · White to play after Kd7
    Show solution

    Ra7+ Kd8 Ra8+ Kc7 Rxg8

  8. Skewer puzzle 8, rated 897h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 8 · rated 897 · Black to play after Kc4
    Show solution

    Rc1+ Kb3 Rxc6

  9. Skewer puzzle 9, rated 943a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 943 · White to play after Bd8
    Show solution

    Rd4+ Ke5 Rxd8

  10. Skewer puzzle 10, rated 931a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 931 · White to play after Kh5
    Show solution

    Rh8+ Kg6 Rg8+ Kf7 Rxg5

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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 800 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 800 is one that players rated around 800 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 919, 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.