X-Ray Attack Chess Puzzles — Rated 1200

10 x-ray attacks rated between 1200 and 1399, averaging 1271. 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.

An x-ray attack works through a piece rather than around it: your piece defends or attacks a square with an enemy piece sitting on the line. When that piece moves or is traded, the x-ray becomes a direct hit.

These are pitched at 1200-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 1200 is one that players around 1200 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.

X-Ray Attack puzzles rated 1200

  1. X-Ray Attack puzzle 1, rated 1251a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 1 · rated 1251 · White to play after Rxc3
    Show solution

    Qxc8+ Rxc8 Rxc8+ Qd8 Rxd8#

  2. X-Ray Attack puzzle 2, rated 1229h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 2 · rated 1229 · Black to play after Qc1
    Show solution

    Rd1+ Qxd1 Qxd1#

  3. X-Ray Attack puzzle 3, rated 1230h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 1230 · Black to play after Nxb8
    Show solution

    Rf1+ Rxf1 Qxf1#

  4. X-Ray Attack puzzle 4, rated 1382h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 1382 · Black to play after Rxd6
    Show solution

    Qxd6 Qxd6 Rxd6

  5. X-Ray Attack puzzle 5, rated 1335a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 1335 · White to play after Rxf7
    Show solution

    Qf8+ Rxf8 Rxf8#

  6. X-Ray Attack puzzle 6, rated 1249h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 6 · rated 1249 · Black to play after Rcxe2
    Show solution

    Qxe1+ Rxe1 Rxe1+ Qg1 Rxg1+

  7. X-Ray Attack puzzle 7, rated 1307h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 7 · rated 1307 · Black to play after Rec1
    Show solution

    Qxc1+ Rxc1 Rxc1+

  8. X-Ray Attack puzzle 8, rated 1209h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 8 · rated 1209 · Black to play after Rxd4
    Show solution

    Qxd1+ Rxd1 Rxd1#

  9. X-Ray Attack puzzle 9, rated 1296h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 1296 · Black to play after Rxa4
    Show solution

    Rxa4+ bxa4 Qxa4#

  10. X-Ray Attack puzzle 10, rated 1226h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 1226 · Black to play after Rbe1
    Show solution

    Qxe1+ Rxe1 Rxe1#

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Frequently asked questions

What is a x-ray attack in chess?

An x-ray attack works through a piece rather than around it: your piece defends or attacks a square with an enemy piece sitting on the line. When that piece moves or is traded, the x-ray becomes a direct hit.

What does a puzzle rating of 1200 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 1200 is one that players rated around 1200 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 1271, so they suit 1200-rated players.

Are these x-ray attack 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.