Free online chess puzzles: how to train your tactics

A puzzle is a position where it is your move and there is a sequence of moves that leads to a decisive advantage: a checkmate, a capture that wins material or a defence that saves the game. Solving them trains tactics, which is the skill that decides the most games.

EonChess puzzles come from the open Lichess puzzle database, with thousands of positions sorted by difficulty and by theme: mate, pin, fork, double attack and more.

Each mode has a different purpose:

• Problems: your daily training, at your level. If you solve one you level up; if you fail, you go down. You get lives and a hint, and at the end we explain the tactical idea.
• Daily puzzle: a single puzzle every day, the same for everyone, with 5 lives. Solving it every day extends your streak.
• Puzzle Rush: solve as many as you can against the clock, in 3 or 5 minutes, or in survival mode until you miss 3.
• Puzzle Battle: a 3-minute 1v1 duel against a friend or a random opponent. You both solve the same puzzles and whoever scores more points wins; there is never a draw. It can be played for free or for money.

In a short game, a single tactical mistake decides the result. Training patterns such as the pin, the fork or mate in two helps you spot them faster, and that shows most at 1, 3 and 5 minute time controls. Puzzles are also the best complement to improving your ELO.

The training modes (problems, daily puzzle and Puzzle Rush) and the free Puzzle Battle cost nothing and give no cash prizes. Puzzle Battle for money is optional: you and your opponent put in the same amount of USDT and the winner takes the pot minus the fee; the amount is reserved from your balance when you are matched and, if the duel is voided, it is returned in full. Your puzzle rating is independent of your ELO in 1v1 games.

If you want to warm up with a full game, you can also practise against the computer.

You need a free account to play puzzles. For fair play, chess engines and outside help are not allowed, and in duels for money response times are reviewed. Playing for money involves risk: adults aged 18+ only.

Open the puzzles, pick a mode and start. If you do not have an account yet, you can create one for free in under a minute. The full rules are in the FAQ.