X-Ray Attack Chess Puzzles — Rated 1800

10 x-ray attacks rated between 1800 and 1999, averaging 1888. 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 1800-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 1800 is one that players around 1800 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 1800

  1. X-Ray Attack puzzle 1, rated 1890h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 1890 · Black to play after Rd6
    Show solution

    Rd8 Kf4 d2 Rxd2 Rxd2

  2. X-Ray Attack puzzle 2, rated 1913a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 1913 · White to play after Qe6
    Show solution

    Qxh5+ Bh6 Bxg6+ Qxg6 Rf7+ Qxf7 Qxf7+

  3. X-Ray Attack puzzle 3, rated 1831h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 1831 · Black to play after Qh8
    Show solution

    Rg5+ fxg5 Qxg5+ Rg2 Qxg2#

  4. X-Ray Attack puzzle 4, rated 1965a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 1965 · White to play after a4
    Show solution

    Kh3 Rg5 g4+ Rxg4 Rxg4

  5. X-Ray Attack puzzle 5, rated 1803a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 1803 · White to play after Nh2
    Show solution

    Rf2 Rxf2 Rxf2 Nxf3 Rxf3

  6. X-Ray Attack puzzle 6, rated 1872a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 1872 · White to play after Nc8
    Show solution

    Qxc8+ Rxc8 Rxc8#

  7. X-Ray Attack puzzle 7, rated 1936h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 7 · rated 1936 · Black to play after Ke1
    Show solution

    Qe4+ Kf2 Qxb1 e6 g6 fxg6 Qxg6

  8. X-Ray Attack puzzle 8, rated 1852h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 8 · rated 1852 · Black to play after Kh1
    Show solution

    Qxe1+ Rxe1 Rxe1+ Kg2 Rg1+

  9. X-Ray Attack puzzle 9, rated 1861a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 1861 · White to play after Bxc4
    Show solution

    Qxc4 Qxc4 Rxc4

  10. X-Ray Attack puzzle 10, rated 1954h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 1954 · Black to play after Kg2
    Show solution

    Qc6+ Kg3 Rxe8 dxe8=Q Qxe8

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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 1800 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 1800 is one that players rated around 1800 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 1888, so they suit 1800-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.