Chess puzzles for Thursday, 12 March 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 8... Bf5.
Puzzle rating 728
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, opening tactic
Show solution
9. Qxe7+ Bxe7 10. Bxf5
FEN: rn2kb1r/pp2qpp1/2p2p1p/5b2/3PQ3/2NB4/PPP2PPP/R3K1NR w KQkq - 3 9
Medium: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 36. Ne3.
Puzzle rating 1719
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, back-rank mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
36... Rxd1+ 37. Nxd1 Nd2+ 38. Ka1 Rc1#
FEN: 3r1k2/p7/6R1/1pr1B3/4nP2/4N3/PP4P1/1K1R4 b - - 4 36
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 32... Qc2.
Puzzle rating 2489
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, discovered check, middlegame tactic
Show solution
33. Re7+ Kf8 34. Qd6 Qd1+ 35. Re1+
FEN: r6r/6kp/2p2pp1/p1N2b2/1p1P1QP1/P7/2q2P1P/4R1K1 w - - 2 33