En passant puzzles
Positions where the winning move, or the key defence, is taking a pawn en passant.
En passant is only allowed on the very next move after the enemy pawn steps two squares past yours. It is easy to forget, which is why these work.
8 real puzzles from games on Lichess, easiest first, rated 1046 to 2667. The course has 185 en passant puzzles in all.
Puzzle 1 · rated 1046
White just played b4. Black to move.
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77... axb3+ 78. Ka1 b2+ 79. Ka2 b1=Q#
Puzzle 2 · rated 1381
White just played Kd2. Black to move.
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51... Kg1 52. h4 gxh3 53. Ke3 h2
Puzzle 3 · rated 1606
Black just played Bxe5. White to move.
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19. dxe5 Ne4 20. Bxe4 f5 21. exf6
Puzzle 4 · rated 1809
Black just played f5. White to move.
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53. exf6 e5 54. fxe5
Puzzle 5 · rated 2018
Black just played Bh6. White to move.
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19. Bd3+ f5 20. exf6+ Bf5 21. Bxf5#
Puzzle 6 · rated 2214
Black just played Rd7. White to move.
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19. Bxg7 Bxg7 20. Rg3 f5 21. exf6
Puzzle 7 · rated 2419
White just played f4. Black to move.
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50... gxf3 51. gxf3 a3
Puzzle 8 · rated 2667
Black just played Qc6. White to move.
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25. Qf2 Re7 26. Qh4 f5 27. exf6
Free, no sign-up. Puzzles come in order of difficulty and the ladder adjusts to how you solve.
Puzzles from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Every line was replayed move by move by the course's rules engine. Part of Chess Path, a free chess course. Free coach for your Chess.com and Lichess games.