Chess Puzzles
Interesting chess puzzles and game positions in FEN format.
If you have the full version of SparkChess, you can copy each string, paste it in the Board Editor, then click Apply to play from that position. If you just have the online version, click the "Play now" link after each puzzle.
Tip: Click on a FEN string to select it automatically.
En-Passant: How it Works
En-Passant is intended to prevent pawns from avoiding being captured when they move two squares. So, if you move the white pawn to d4, it will be captured by en-passant. If you move it to d3, it’s a normal capture.
For Beginners: Mate in Three
Here’s a pretty simple chess puzzle to get you warmed up. White to play and mate in three
Think This Is Too easy?
This situation seems ridiculously easy. The black king is in such a dire situation that deafeat is inevitable – but – can White mate in just three moves?
Promote to Knight
There are cases where an underpromotion would be useful. World Champion Emanuel Lasker presented a position in which White is in serious trouble, that not even a promotion to Queen would solve.
Mate in Three with a Promotion
An interesting puzzle composed by Niels Hoeg in 1905 and featuring promotions: White can mate (win) in three moves. Can you find the right solution?
Mate in Two
In this easy chess puzzle, White can win in just two moves. Can you find the right ones?
Kasparov Mates in 3
This position is from Garry Kasparov vs Elmar Magerramov, USSR, 1982. Kasparov checkmated Elmar in 3 moves. Can you do that?
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