White to move · 2 moves · Rating 879
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
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81.Kf5 Kh3 82.Kxg5
Ponderchess / Puzzles
Defensive moves puzzles
119 defensive moves puzzles from real games, rated 879 to 2679. Here are 18, from easiest to hardest.
Not every puzzle is about attacking. In these, your opponent has a real threat and the best move is the one that stops it, often the only move that does, while keeping your advantage.
Defensive puzzles train the half of chess most players neglect: checking what your opponent wants before you play your own idea. Many games are saved by one accurate defensive move.
How to solve them: Before looking at your own ideas, ask what your opponent threatens if it were their move. The solution usually meets that threat with a move that also does something useful.
New to the idea? Read Prophylaxis in chess first.
18 defensive moves puzzles to solve
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White to move · 3 moves · Rating 1274
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
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27.Qd8+ Kh7 28.Qxe7 Qb1+ 29.Kh2
White to move · 2 moves · Rating 1540
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
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16.Nxd5 Ng4+ 17.Kg1
White to move · 2 moves · Rating 1687
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73.Qxd8 Rxd8 74.Ka7
White to move · 2 moves · Rating 1776
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
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13.Bxc3 Re8+ 14.Kf1
White to move · 3 moves · Rating 1929
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
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31.Kh1 Qg6 32.Rg1 Kg7 33.Rxg6+
White to move · 3 moves · Rating 2000
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
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27.Qg5 Qd3+ 28.Kg4 g6 29.Qf6
Black to move · 4 moves · Rating 2099
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23...Qxb5 24.Qd2+ Kc7 25.Rc1+ Kb7 26.Be4+ Ka7
White to move · 3 moves · Rating 2180
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8.Rb1 Qa3 9.Nb5 Qxa2 10.O-O
Black to move · 3 moves · Rating 2222
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35...fxe4+ 36.Kd4 Ke6 37.Kc5 Ke5
Black to move · 6 moves · Rating 2341
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47...Nxe4 48.b6 Nd6 49.hxg4 Nc4+ 50.Kf3 Nxb6 51.Kg3 Kf6 52.Kh4 Kg6
White to move · 3 moves · Rating 2429
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48.Nf5+ Ke5 49.Nxg3 h4 50.Ne2
Black to move · 2 moves · Rating 2459
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34...Qg3 35.Qb2+ Be5
Black to move · 4 moves · Rating 2491
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32...Nxg3+ 33.hxg3 Qxg3 34.Bxd4+ cxd4 35.Qxd4+ Rg7
White to move · 7 moves · Rating 2522
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45.Rb5 Rf5+ 46.Ke4 Rxb5 47.cxb5 Kg4 48.Ke3 h3 49.Kf2 h2 50.Kg2 h1=Q+ 51.Kxh1
Black to move · 3 moves · Rating 2600
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35...Rc6+ 36.Kd5 Rb6 37.Rh8+ Ke7
Black to move · 4 moves · Rating 2618
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28...Rxd4 29.cxd4 b4 30.axb4 c3 31.bxc3 a4
White to move · 2 moves · Rating 2679
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
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60.a7 Nc7 61.Kc3
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Positions from the open Lichess puzzle database (CC0).