Hanging piece puzzles: win the free piece
A piece is hanging when it can be taken for free because nothing defends it. Spot it, and take it.
Before every move, check which of your pieces and your opponent's are undefended. Most games below 1200 are decided by a piece left hanging.
8 real puzzles from games on Lichess, easiest first, rated 516 to 2659. The course has 448 hanging pieces puzzles in all.
Puzzle 1 · rated 516
Black just played Qxb3. White to move.
Show the answer
27. Qxf8#
Puzzle 2 · rated 772
Black just played Rh5. White to move.
Show the answer
19. Qxd8#
Puzzle 3 · rated 1010
Black just played Kf8. White to move.
Show the answer
41. Bxf6 Nd6+ 42. Ke5
Puzzle 4 · rated 1296
White just played Rxd7. Black to move.
Show the answer
25... Bxe3+ 26. Kf1 Bxd7
Puzzle 5 · rated 1570
Black just played Rd2+. White to move.
Show the answer
66. Kxd2 Ka2 67. Ra5+ Kb3 68. Rb5+
Puzzle 6 · rated 1917
Black just played Bxc3. White to move.
Show the answer
26. Bxc3 Qxd1 27. Rxb2
Puzzle 7 · rated 2260
White just played Ke2. Black to move.
Show the answer
39... Nxc1+ 40. Kd2 Nd3 41. Kxc2 Ne1+ 42. Kd2 Nxg2
Puzzle 8 · rated 2659
Black just played Bxb5. White to move.
Show the answer
24. Bxb5 Qb6+ 25. Be3 d4 26. Bf2 Qxb5 27. Bxd4
Free, no sign-up. Puzzles come in order of difficulty and the ladder adjusts to how you solve.
‹ Double check · Trapped pieces ›
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.