Chess Puzzles for Kids – Free & Printable

Free chess puzzles for kids ages 6–12: five puzzle islands from capturing a free piece to mate in 2, friendly hints, stars and printable worksheets.

These puzzles are made for children who know how the pieces move, usually ages 6 to 12. They start very easy, with a piece that can simply be captured, and step up to forks, pins and checkmate in two. Each island has 12 hand-checked puzzles from the free Lichess puzzle database, ordered from easiest to hardest.

How to use them: let your child pick the first island and solve on the big board. Hints never run out. The first hint lights up the piece to move, the second shows the move with an arrow. Solving without help earns 3 stars, with one hint 2 stars, with more hints 1 star. Progress is saved on this device, and no account is needed.

Why puzzles help: short puzzles teach a child to look for checks, captures and threats before moving, which is the habit that wins most games at this level. A few puzzles a day build pattern memory, focus and patience. For the classroom or a car ride, print an island as a worksheet with an answer key.

The five islands: Free Piece Island (capture an unprotected piece), Checkmate Cove (mate in 1), Fork Forest (forks), Pin Peak (pins and skewers) and Treasure Castle (mate in 2). Every island prints as a worksheet with an answer key.