Black to move · 2 moves · Rating 518
Find checkmate in 2 moves.
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30...Ra1+ 31.Rc1 Rxc1#
Ponderchess / Puzzles
Endgame puzzles
878 endgame puzzles from real games, rated 518 to 2756. Here are 18, from easiest to hardest.
These puzzles come from the final phase of the game, with few pieces left. Kings become fighting pieces, passed pawns decide results, and precise technique matters more than flashy tactics.
Endgame puzzles cover the moves that turn an advantage into a win or a worse position into a draw: opposition, outside passed pawns, rook activity and the occasional surprising stalemate trick.
How to solve them: Activate your king and count pawn races carefully. In endgames one tempo often decides everything, so check whose king reaches the key square first.
New to the idea? Read Opposition in chess first.
18 endgame puzzles to solve
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Black to move · 2 moves · Rating 648
Find checkmate in 2 moves.
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35...Qe1+ 36.Bf1 Qxf1#
White to move · 1 move · Rating 756
Find checkmate in 1 move.
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34.Qxg7#
White to move · 3 moves · Rating 857
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
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65.Rh7+ Kf6 66.Rh6+ Kg5 67.Rxe6
Black to move · 2 moves · Rating 978
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
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32...Nf3+ 33.Kf1 Nxe5
White to move · 3 moves · Rating 1133
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
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31.Be6+ Kd8 32.Rf8+ Ke7 33.Bxg4
White to move · 2 moves · Rating 1266
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
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58.exf4 h3 59.Bg3
White to move · 2 moves · Rating 1385
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
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44.Bb5 Qxb5 45.Qxb5+
Black to move · 3 moves · Rating 1534
Find checkmate in 3 moves.
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38...Qxf2+ 39.Rxf2 Re1+ 40.Rf1 Rexf1#
Black to move · 3 moves · Rating 1656
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
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23...Rcb6 24.Kf1 Rb1 25.Qxb1 Rxb1+
White to move · 2 moves · Rating 1775
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
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51.f4 Kd6 52.f5
Black to move · 2 moves · Rating 1938
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
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50...Rc7 51.Rxb2 Rxa7
Black to move · 4 moves · Rating 2084
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
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31...Rxe5 32.Qxe5 Rxe5 33.Rxe5 Qd4+ 34.Kf1 Qxe5
Black to move · 3 moves · Rating 2233
Find checkmate in 3 moves.
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23...Rf4+ 24.Ke1 Rh1+ 25.Ke2 Rf2#
White to move · 3 moves · Rating 2349
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
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30.Nxa8 a3 31.Ne3 a2 32.Nc2
Black to move · 4 moves · Rating 2476
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
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60...Ke5 61.cxb6 Kd6 62.b7 Kc7 63.Kg5 e3
White to move · 7 moves · Rating 2590
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
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45.b7 Rb8 46.Rb1 f3 47.a5 Rxb7 48.Rxb7 f2 49.Rb1 e3 50.a6 Kg7 51.a7
White to move · 4 moves · Rating 2756
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
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47.h7 c1=Q 48.h8=Q+ Kd3 49.Qh7+ Ke2 50.Re5+
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Positions from the open Lichess puzzle database (CC0).