French Defense Exchange Variation Hanging Piece Puzzle: Blac

♟ Puzzle Objective

Black to move. This beginner Hanging Piece challenge comes from a French Defense Exchange Variation position. Find the forcing continuation before viewing the hint or solution, then replay the line until the tactical clue becomes easy to recognise.

Puzzle at a Glance

Main ThemeHanging Piece

To MoveBlack

Rating902

Times Played699

Tactical Themes in This Position

Hanging Piece Kingside Attack Mate Mate In 1 One Move Opening

Recognising hanging piece is only step one. The useful training question is why it works in this exact position and how the French Defense Exchange Variation structure allowed it.

How to Solve It

Check the king, hanging pieces and immediate threats.
List forcing candidates: checks, captures, then direct threats.
Calculate the opponent’s strongest reply before moving.
Play the sequence and review any missed defence.

Calculation Checklist

Checks?Captures?Threats?King escape?Defender removed?Final gain?

Position Analysis

Black to move. This Hanging Piece puzzle comes from a French Defense Exchange Variation position. With a training rating of 902, it is classed here as Beginner. The solution contains 1 forcing move after the setup position.

Not every tactic needs a spectacular sacrifice. This position tests whether Black notices a loose piece and can win material without allowing counterplay. Supporting motifs tagged in the source data include Kingside Attack, Mate, Mate In 1.

Training focus: Solve the line before using the reveal button. Then reset the board and explain why the first move works; recognising the motif in a real game matters more than remembering puzzle ID 0AA4E.

Position Details & Source

Puzzle Position FEN

r3kb1r/pppb1ppp/2B2n2/8/Qq1P1B2/8/PP2NPPP/RN2R1K1 b kq - 0 13

Copy this FEN into an analysis board to revisit the exact position shown above. Opening tag: French Defense Exchange Variation. Primary tactical theme: Hanging Piece.

View source game on Lichess ↗

Continue Training on ChessAlgo

Chess Tactics GuideLearn forks, pins, skewers and major tactical patterns. Chess Move CalculatorAnalyze positions and compare candidate moves. Chess OpeningsBuild the positions where tactics appear. FEN GuideSave and study exact puzzle positions.

Reviewed for practical training by

Alex Torres

FIDE-Rated Chess Analyst · Engine Specialist · Founder, ChessAlgo.com

Alex Torres is a FIDE-rated chess player and Stockfish analysis specialist with 15+ years of competitive play and 8 years of private coaching experience. ChessAlgo puzzle pages are designed for practical calculation training and post-game improvement.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What should I notice first in this Hanging Piece puzzle? ▾

Begin by looking for the clue behind the hanging piece theme, then compare checks, captures and direct threats. Do not move until you have calculated the opponent’s strongest reply.

How difficult is this tactic? ▾

This puzzle is marked beginner with a puzzle rating of 902. Try to solve it without a hint first, then review the full line.

How should I review this position after revealing the line? ▾

Reveal the solution, identify why the hanging piece works in this position, reset the board and solve it again from memory. That second attempt is where pattern recognition is built.