Hanging piece — Chess Puzzles

Solve free «Hanging piece» chess puzzles from the lichess database, from beginner to master. No account needed.

A hanging piece is one that is attacked and not defended. It is the simplest tactic there is, and it decides more games than every clever combination put together — most material at club level changes hands because somebody left a piece where it could be taken for nothing.

How to spot it

• A piece has no defender at all, or fewer defenders than attackers.
• Its defender just moved away, or is pinned, or is busy guarding something else.
• It sits on a square your bishop, rook or queen already looks at.
• Scan every enemy piece after each move and ask one question: if I take it, what takes back?

A worked example

White: king g5, rook e3. Black: king f7, knight f3, pawns e2 and h5. White to move.

1. The knight on f3 is attacked by the rook on e3 and defended by nothing — the black king is too far away, and a pawn on e2 does not cover f3.
2. Rxf3 takes it for free, and comes with check into the bargain.
3. No combination and no sacrifice: just a piece standing where it could be taken.

The idea This is the tactic that decides most games. After every move the opponent makes, ask the same question of every piece on the board: if I take it, what takes back?