X-Ray Attack Chess Puzzles — Rated 2200+

10 x-ray attacks rated between 2200 and 3500, averaging 2372. 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 2200+-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 2200+ is one that players around 2200+ 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 2200+

  1. X-Ray Attack puzzle 1, rated 2507h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 2507 · Black to play after Rd8
    Show solution

    Rxe2+ Kg1 Rxd8 Rxd8+ Kh7 Qd5 Qb1+ Qd1 Re1+ Qxe1 Qxe1+

  2. X-Ray Attack puzzle 2, rated 2263a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 2263 · White to play after Bxe5
    Show solution

    Nb5+ Kd7 Rc7+ Bxc7 Qxc7+ Ke8 Re1+

  3. X-Ray Attack puzzle 3, rated 2259a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 2259 · White to play after Kc6
    Show solution

    Qc8+ Qc7 cxd5+ Kb6+ Nc4+ Qxc4+ Qxc4

  4. X-Ray Attack puzzle 4, rated 2328h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 2328 · Black to play after fxe7
    Show solution

    Qb6+ Kh1 Rxf1+ Qxf1 Bxf1

  5. X-Ray Attack puzzle 5, rated 2221a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 2221 · White to play after Rf5
    Show solution

    Qe8+ Kh7 Ng5+ Rxg5 Rxg5

  6. X-Ray Attack puzzle 6, rated 2606a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 2606 · White to play after a4
    Show solution

    g5 fxg5 Bxg5 Kg8 h6

  7. X-Ray Attack puzzle 7, rated 2774h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 7 · rated 2774 · Black to play after Kh3
    Show solution

    Bf5+ Kg3 Qf3+ Kh2 Qh3+ Kg1 Qg3+ Kf1 e3 Qxe3 Bd3+ Qxd3+ Qxd3+

  8. X-Ray Attack puzzle 8, rated 2271h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 8 · rated 2271 · Black to play after Kh3
    Show solution

    Kh5 g4+ fxg4+ fxg4+ Qxg4#

  9. X-Ray Attack puzzle 9, rated 2257h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 2257 · Black to play after Qxe7
    Show solution

    Qb1+ Ka3 Rxd3+ cxd3 Qxd3+

  10. X-Ray Attack puzzle 10, rated 2232h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 2232 · Black to play after Nxe6
    Show solution

    Rxd1 Rxd1 Ra1 Qe1 Qxe1+ Rxe1 Rxe1+

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 2200+ mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 2200+ is one that players rated around 2200+ solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 2372, so they suit 2200+-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.