Quiet move puzzles
A move that does not check or capture, but sets up a threat the opponent cannot stop.
About quiet move puzzles
A move that does not check or capture, but sets up a threat the opponent cannot stop. The best quiet moves are easy to overlook.
How to spot it
- When checks and captures fail, look at moves that take away the last escape square.
- A quiet move often attacks the same square twice or threatens mate next move.
- Count the opponent's replies. A good quiet move leaves none that work.
A common mistake
Playing a natural capture and missing the move that threatens mate next turn.
A worked example
R
R
K
KBlack to move. White has just played Rc2. Find the best move.
Solution: 40... Rxc2 41. Kxc2 h5 42. Kd3 h4
Rxc2 attacks the pawn on a2. The idea: A move that does not check or capture, but sets up a threat the opponent cannot stop.
The highlighted squares show White's last move. This position is a different puzzle from the ones you start with above (1066 rating).
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Questions
Why do I miss quiet moves?
Because we look at checks and captures first. Make it a habit to ask, after those, what move improves the position with a hidden threat.
Where do these puzzles come from?
They are real puzzles from the Lichess puzzle database, which is free to use under the CC0 license. Each one was built from a real game and tested by many players. We picked well-rated ones with good popularity scores.
Are the puzzles free?
Yes. There is no signup, no limit and no ads on the puzzles. Your progress on this page is not saved after you leave.
What do the difficulty levels mean?
Beginner puzzles are rated under 1250, intermediate 1250 to 1749 and advanced 1750 and up, using the rating Lichess players earned on each puzzle.