Chess puzzles for Thursday, 5 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 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 9... Qxd4.
Puzzle rating 1155
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, attacking f2/f7, middlegame tactic
Show solution
10. Qxf7+ Kd8 11. Qf8#
FEN: rn2k1nr/ppp2p2/4B2p/4b1pQ/3qPp2/8/PPP3PP/RNB1K2R w KQkq - 0 10
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 30. g3.
Puzzle rating 1557
Hint
Show solution
30... d2+ 31. Kd1 Nd3 32. Kxd2 Nxc5+
FEN: 3r2k1/5pp1/4p2p/1PQ5/5n2/1P1p2P1/5P1P/4K3 b - - 0 30
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 50... Ke5.
Puzzle rating 2192
Hint
Theme: trapped piece, endgame tactic
Show solution
51. Kg5 Kd4 52. Kh6 Kxc4 53. Kg7 Nxe6+ 54. dxe6
FEN: 5n2/4p3/1p1pP3/1PpPkB2/2P3K1/8/8/8 w - - 3 51