Chess Puzzles

Want to get better at chess, improve your concentration and learn some tricks? Here’s a collection of hand-picked chess puzzles just for that. Most of the positions occurred during famous games between Grandmasters.

Click on the “Play now” link or on the puzzle image to play and solve the puzzle online, or click on the Solution link for details about the puzzle and the players. From there you can select a FEN string and, if you have the full version of SparkChess, you can paste it in the Board Editor to play from that position. All puzzles have solutions (hidden by default). Don’t forget to comment if you found an alternate (or better) solution!

Use the links on the side (or at the bottom on mobile devices) to see more puzzles.

Max Walter vs. Emanuel Lasker

Play online this chess puzzle from a game between grandmasters Max Walter and Emanuel Lasker. Black to move and win in 3.

4r1k1/3n1ppp/4r3/3n3q/Q2P4/5P2/PP2BP1P/R1B1R1K1 b - - 0 1

Solution & Comments

Cristina Iosif vs. Almira Skripchenko

Try to solve this easy chess puzzle online: International Masters Cristina Iosif vs Almira Skripchenko. Black to move and mate in 2.

4r1k1/pQ3pp1/7p/4q3/4r3/P7/1P2nPPP/2BR1R1K b - - 0 1

Solution & Comments

Isaías Pleci vs. Lucius Endzelins

Isaías Pleci vs Lucius Endzelins. White to move and win in 2. Can you find the solution to this chess puzzle from 1939?

r4R2/1b2n1pp/p2Np1k1/1pn5/4pP1P/8/PPP1B1P1/2K4R w - - 1 0

Solution & Comments

Veselin Topalov vs. Garry Kasparov

Topalov vs Kasparov

A chess puzzle form a game in Moscow, 1994 between Veselin Topalov and Garry Kasparov. Topalov moves and wins in 4.

4k2r/1R3R2/p3p1pp/4b3/1BnNr3/8/P1P5/5K2 w - - 1 0

Solution & Comments

Monterinas vs. Max Euwe

Monterinas vs Euwe

Play online this chess puzzle from a simul between Monterinas vs Max Euwe, Amsterdam, 1927. Black to move and win in 2.

7r/p3ppk1/3p4/2p1P1Kp/2Pb4/3P1QPq/PP5P/R6R b - - 0 1

Solution & Comments

Alexander Alekhine vs. Fahardo

Alekhine-vs-Fahardo

Puzzle from a simul between Alexander Alekhine vs Fahardo, Montevideo, 1939. White to move and win in 2. Can you solve this chess puzzle online?

4r3/pbpn2n1/1p1prp1k/8/2PP2PB/P5N1/2B2R1P/R5K1 w - - 1 0

Solution & Comments