Worksheet: Hanging Pieces and Piece Values

Topic: middlegame | Level: 2

Learn the value of each piece and how to spot when a piece is left undefended ("hanging") so you can win it for free.

Why This Matters

Every piece has an approximate value: pawn 1, knight 3, bishop 3, rook 5, queen 9.
Before every move, check: did that move leave a piece where it can be captured for free?
Winning "hanging" pieces is the single easiest way for a beginner to gain an advantage.

Practice Tasks

Write the point value of the pawn, knight, bishop, rook, and queen.
In the mini-game position, circle any piece that looks undefended.
Solve the 5 hanging-piece puzzles from this lesson and write the winning move for each.

Board Evolution (One Step per Board)

Step 0: Starting Position

Step 1: e4

Step 2: e5

Step 3: Nf3

Step 4: Nc6

Step 5: Bc4

Step 6: Bc5

Step 7: Nc3

Step 8: Nf6

Practice Positions

Find each move on paper, then check the Answer Key at the end.

Practice 1

White to move. Black just left a piece undefended — find the free capture.

Practice 2

White to move. Spot the undefended piece and win it.

Practice 3

White to move. Which black piece is hanging?

Practice 4

White to move. Look for a free piece along the diagonals.

Practice 5

White to move. Black's most valuable piece is undefended — take it!

Mini-Game

Play this position out with a partner. Every time either side moves a piece to a square with no defender, the other side should say "hanging!" and try to win it.

Answer Key

Pawn = 1, Knight = 3, Bishop = 3, Rook = 5, Queen = 9.
A piece is hanging if no friendly piece can recapture on its square.
See practice positions above for each puzzle's solution move.

Practice Position Solutions

Practice 1: Qxd5+ — Black's knight on d5 has no defender and no black piece can reach d5 to recapture. Qxd5+ wins the knight for free (and comes with check, since the black king is far away on a8).
Practice 2: Nxf5 — Black's rook on f5 is not protected by anything. The knight on d4 can jump straight to f5 and capture it for free — no black piece can recapture on f5.
Practice 3: Rxe6 — The bishop on e6 sits on the same open file as the white rook, and nothing defends it. Rxe6 wins the bishop with no recapture available.
Practice 4: Bxg6 — The bishop on c2 has a clear diagonal all the way to g6, where Black's knight sits undefended. Bxg6 wins the knight for free.
Practice 5: Rxd8+ — Even the strongest piece on the board can hang. Black's queen on d8 has no defender, so Rxd8+ captures it for free — always scan for the biggest hanging piece first.