Chess puzzles for Monday, 9 March 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 44. Ke6.
Puzzle rating 1027
Hint
Theme: skewer, deflection, bishop endgame
Show solution
44... Bc8+ 45. Kd6 Bxf5
FEN: 8/1b4k1/4Kp2/5Bp1/8/8/5P1P/8 b - - 5 44
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 33... Kg8.
Puzzle rating 1432
Hint
Theme: endgame tactic
Show solution
34. Qxe5 Nc6 35. Qd5+
FEN: 2bq2k1/p6p/1p1P2p1/n1p1p1N1/2P5/2P1Q3/P3B1P1/6K1 w - - 2 34
Hard: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 35. Qxe4.
Puzzle rating 2174
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, attraction (decoy), sacrifice
Show solution
35... Rf1+ 36. Kg2 Rg1+ 37. Kxg1 Qf1#
FEN: 5rk1/p6p/1pN2q2/3R4/4Q1p1/P7/1P2Rr1P/6K1 b - - 0 35