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Printable Zugzwang Puzzles

Real positions from rated games. Narrow them by motif, difficulty or rating, then solve or print each one.

Printable worksheet

12 zugzwang puzzles, every difficulty, with answer key

Zugzwang wins by giving the opponent the move when every legal reply worsens their position. It is the signature weapon of pawn and minor-piece endgames.

Solve these online instead Customise: pick difficulty, count and paper size

Positions come from real rated games. The answer key prints on the last page.

Zugzwang — chess puzzle worksheet Name: ______________   Date: ______________
♟♚
♙♟
♔♟♙♟
♙♙
#1 · black to move · rating 692
♟
♟♙♟
♚♙♔♙
#2 · white to move · rating 1382
♟♟
♟♚♟
♙♟♙♟
♙♙♙
♔♙
#3 · white to move · rating 1736
♚
♟
♟♙
♙
♔
#4 · black to move · rating 1940
♟
♟♟♚♟
♙♟♙
♙♔♙
♙
#5 · black to move · rating 2056
♟
♟♚
♙♟♟♟
♙♟
♔♙♙
♙
#6 · white to move · rating 2228
♟
♚♙♙
♟♟♔
♟♟
♙♙
♙
#7 · black to move · rating 2330
♟
♟♟
♟♚
♙♙
♔♙♙
#8 · black to move · rating 2432
♟
♟♟
♚♙
♙
♔♙
#9 · white to move · rating 2532
♟
♚
♟♟
♙♟♙
♙
♙
♔
#10 · black to move · rating 2631
♟♟
♟♟♚
♟♙♟
♙♔♙
♙♙
♙
#11 · white to move · rating 2719
♟
♚♟
♜♖♟
♔
♙
♙
#12 · white to move · rating 2799

Answer key

  1. #1 (puzzle 0bzbM): Kd5 → Kc3 → Kc5
  2. #2 (puzzle 0TaM0): Ke5 → Kc3 → Kxd5
  3. #3 (puzzle 0TReG): Kc3 → exd4+ → exd4
  4. #4 (puzzle 0QU9i): Ke5 → Kf1 → Kd4 → Ke2 → Ke4
  5. #5 (puzzle 09oCO): bxa4 → bxa4 → Kd5
  6. #6 (puzzle 05lpo): fxg4 → hxg4 → hxg4 → Ke5 → a3
  7. #7 (puzzle 0K5Xk): a4 → f7 → Kxf7 → Kf5 → b3
  8. #8 (puzzle 1gDvj): h6 → Kd3 → Kb4 → g4 → Kxa4
  9. #9 (puzzle 1Mlss): Kc2 → Kc5 → Kc3 → b4+ → Kd3
  10. #10 (puzzle 1G3av): Kf5 → Ke1 → Kg4 → Ke2 → f6 → Ke3 → f5 → Ke2 → f4
  11. #11 (puzzle 21Ssq): a4 → c5 → dxc5 → bxc5 → a5
  12. #12 (puzzle 1ud7a): Rxa5+ → Kxa5 → Kg5 → Kb5 → Kh6 → Kc5 → Kxh7 → Kd6 → Kxg6 → Ke5 → Kh5

Positions from real rated games (CC0 data).