Chess puzzles for Monday, 2 March 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 32. Nxe2.
Puzzle rating 911
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, queenside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
32... Qa2+ 33. Kc1 Qa1#
FEN: r7/p6P/q1p3k1/3p1pN1/1n1P1P2/8/1PPQN3/1K4R1 b - - 0 32
Medium: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 37... a3.
Puzzle rating 1714
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, Pillsbury’s mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
38. Kf6 Re2 39. Rb8+ Re8 40. Rxe8#
FEN: 6k1/1R3p2/1p5p/2p1KB2/2b3P1/p1P5/1r6/8 w - - 0 38
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 14... Ne5.
Puzzle rating 2583
Hint
Theme: kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
15. Qxe8+ Qxe8 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. Rxc8+ Qf8 18. Rxf8+
FEN: 2rqr1k1/pp2bppp/5p2/3Nn3/Q2pP2P/3P1P2/PP2BP2/2R1K2R w K - 1 15