X-Ray Attack Chess Puzzles — Rated 1600

10 x-ray attacks rated between 1600 and 1799, averaging 1675. 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 1600-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 1600 is one that players around 1600 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 1600

  1. X-Ray Attack puzzle 1, rated 1623a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 1 · rated 1623 · White to play after Be2
    Show solution

    Nxe5+ Bxe5+ Bxe5

  2. X-Ray Attack puzzle 2, rated 1668h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 2 · rated 1668 · Black to play after Qxc6
    Show solution

    Qd1+ Rxd1 Rxd1+ Ne1 Rxe1+ Rf1 Rxf1#

  3. X-Ray Attack puzzle 3, rated 1703a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 1703 · White to play after Kd6
    Show solution

    Qxd8+ Rxd8 Rxd8+

  4. X-Ray Attack puzzle 4, rated 1664a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 1664 · White to play after Rxd3
    Show solution

    Qg4+ Kf8 Qxc8+ Qd8 Qxd8+ Rxd8 Rxd8+

  5. X-Ray Attack puzzle 5, rated 1632h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 5 · rated 1632 · Black to play after g5
    Show solution

    Qb2+ Qd2 Re2+ Qxe2 Qxe2+

  6. X-Ray Attack puzzle 6, rated 1689a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 1689 · White to play after Rd8
    Show solution

    Rxh6+ Kg7 Qxb6 Rxb6 Rxb6

  7. X-Ray Attack puzzle 7, rated 1714a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 1714 · White to play after Qc4
    Show solution

    Qxg8+ Rxg8 Rxg8#

  8. X-Ray Attack puzzle 8, rated 1735a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 1735 · White to play after Rxc3
    Show solution

    Qc8+ Rxc8 Rxc8+ Qd8 Rxd8#

  9. X-Ray Attack puzzle 9, rated 1675h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 1675 · Black to play after Qd3
    Show solution

    Re8+ Ne6 Rxe6+ Kf3 Re3+ Qxe3 Qxe3#

  10. X-Ray Attack puzzle 10, rated 1645a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 1645 · White to play after Rg6
    Show solution

    Bxg7+ Rxg7 Rxg7 Qxd3+ Ka1

Train x-ray attack puzzles at your rating →

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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 1600 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 1600 is one that players rated around 1600 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 1675, so they suit 1600-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.