Board puzzles
Chess puzzle — rules and where to play
CHESS PUZZLE · Tactics / Mate-in-N / Combination
From a given position, find the winning line — usually a mate or material gain. It tests calculation, not play.
- Origin
- —
- Difficulty
- ★★★★★ 3–5 / 5
- Time
- 5–30 min
- Grid
- 8×8
- Sites
- 2
Rules
- A set position; one side (specified) moves first.
- Goal is usually mate in N, or a clean material win.
- Every move assumes the opponent's best reply; the solution must hold against all of them.
How to start
Hunt the mating idea first
For "mate in 2", list what can check, then work back one move.
Calculate the toughest defence
Your idea must beat the opponent's best reply, or it is not the answer.
Use tactic templates
Fork, pin, deflection, smothered mate recur — recognise them.
Where players get stuck
- Attacking only, not checking the opponent's stiffest defence.
- Treating "win material" as "mate" when the goal differs.
Play Chess puzzle
2 sitesRelated puzzles
About this page
- Last updated 2026-09-22
- Source Curated compilation of established puzzle rules and listed third-party play sites
- Audience Players learning Chess puzzle rules or looking for online sites to play
- Covers Rules summary, how to start, common pitfalls, and the dedicated play sites listed on this page
- Does not cover Hosted puzzles, worked solutions, official contest rankings, third-party uptime or pricing guarantees
- Not advice This page is puzzle reference content only. It does not constitute financial, legal, medical or other professional advice.
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