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.

diagram of Richard Reti vs. Saviely Tartakower chess puzzle

Richard Reti vs. Saviely Tartakower

White mates in 3 in a daring maneouver. Richard Reti vs Saviely Tartakower, Vienna 1910.
diagram of Popert vs. John Cochrane chess puzzle

Popert vs. John Cochrane

Black Mates in 3. Popert vs John Cochrane, London, 1841
diagram of Napoleon Bonaparte vs. Madame de Remusat chess puzzle

Napoleon Bonaparte vs. Madame de Remusat

Medium difficulty chess puzzle: Napoleon Bonaparte vs. Madame de Remusat 1804; White to Move and mate in 3.
diagram of Nona Gaprindashvili vs. Eliška Richtrová chess puzzle

Nona Gaprindashvili vs. Eliška Richtrová

Chess puzzle from a women competition. Nona Gaprindashvili vs. Eliska Richtrova, Wuppertal, 1990. White to move and mate in 2.
diagram of Mikhail Tal vs. Pal Benko chess puzzle

Mikhail Tal vs. Pal Benko

From the classics. Chess puzzle, Mikhail Tal vs. Pal Benko, Bled, 1959. White moves and wins in 2.
diagram of Jacques Schwarz vs. Samsonov chess puzzle

Jacques Schwarz vs. Samsonov

Without Queen, can Jacques Schwarz defeat Samsonov? Find out what happened in Hailedberg solving this puzzle. White to move. Mate in 2.
diagram of Wilhelm Steinitz vs. Herbert Trenchard chess puzzle

Wilhelm Steinitz vs. Herbert Trenchard

A nice online chess puzzle from Wilhelm Steinitz vs. Herbert Trenchard in 1887.
diagram of Wilhelm Steinitz vs. David Sands chess puzzle

Wilhelm Steinitz vs. David Sands

Wilhelm Steinitz vs. David Sands, New York, 1887. White to move and wins in 2.