X-Ray Attack Chess Puzzles — Rated 2000

10 x-ray attacks rated between 2000 and 2199, averaging 2093. 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 2000-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 2000 is one that players around 2000 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 2000

  1. X-Ray Attack puzzle 1, rated 2053h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 2053 · Black to play after Rxc3
    Show solution

    Qc1+ Rxc1 Rxc1+ Qd1 Rxd1#

  2. X-Ray Attack puzzle 2, rated 2019h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 2 · rated 2019 · Black to play after Bxg3
    Show solution

    Qxh2+ Bxh2 Bxh2+

  3. X-Ray Attack puzzle 3, rated 2014h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 2014 · Black to play after Ke2
    Show solution

    Qc2+ Kf1 Nh2+ Qxh2 Qxh2

  4. X-Ray Attack puzzle 4, rated 2169h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 2169 · Black to play after b5
    Show solution

    Ra8 Qb7 Rhb8 bxc6+ Kd8 Ba5 Rxb7 cxb7 Bxb7

  5. X-Ray Attack puzzle 5, rated 2185h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 5 · rated 2185 · Black to play after Qb3
    Show solution

    Qxh2+ Bxh2 Bxh2+

  6. X-Ray Attack puzzle 6, rated 2089h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 6 · rated 2089 · Black to play after Re1
    Show solution

    Bxd4+ Kh1 Qxb2 Qxb2 Bxb2

  7. X-Ray Attack puzzle 7, rated 2193h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 7 · rated 2193 · Black to play after Rxe7
    Show solution

    Qd8 Qd5 Qxc7 Rxc7 Rxc7

  8. X-Ray Attack puzzle 8, rated 2040a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 2040 · White to play after Kc7
    Show solution

    Nxe8+ Rxe8 Rxe8

  9. X-Ray Attack puzzle 9, rated 2109h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 2109 · Black to play after Rxd5
    Show solution

    Qxd5 Qxd5+ Bxd5

  10. X-Ray Attack puzzle 10, rated 2056a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 2056 · White to play after axb4
    Show solution

    Kh3 Rg5 g4+ Rxg4 Rxg4

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 2000 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 2000 is one that players rated around 2000 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 2093, so they suit 2000-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.