Chess puzzles for Sunday, 1 March 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 37... Qxe2.
Puzzle rating 953
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, hook mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
38. Rg8#
FEN: 4R3/5rk1/1b1p1Np1/p5P1/2pP4/P7/1P2qP2/6K1 w - - 0 38
Medium: White to move and mate in 4
White to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 26... dxe4.
Puzzle rating 1431
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, attraction (decoy), sacrifice
Show solution
27. Rxh6+ Kg8 28. Rh8+ Kxh8 29. Qh3+ Kg8 30. Qh7#
FEN: 1r3r1k/2p3p1/1pb3Pp/p3qP2/4p3/3PQ2R/PPP4P/1R4K1 w - - 0 27
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 26... Rxf3.
Puzzle rating 2022
Hint
Theme: deflection, middlegame tactic
Show solution
27. Rg5+ Kf8 28. Qxh7 Qxh2+ 29. Kxh2 Rxh3+ 30. Qxh3
FEN: 3r2k1/1p5p/pbbqp3/3PR3/P5p1/2B2r1P/1PQ2P1P/3R3K w - - 0 27