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Chess puzzles for Monday, 16 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

h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8

Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 38. Rh1.

Puzzle rating 742

Hint

Theme: mate in 2, hook mate, sacrifice

Show solution

38... Rf2+ 39. Bxf2 Rxf2#

FEN: 6R1/5r2/2p4p/p4r1k/P2B2p1/2P3Pn/1P4K1/7R b - - 9 38

Medium: Black to move and win

h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8

Black to move and win. The opponent just played 35. Re5.

Puzzle rating 1772

Hint

Theme: defensive move, rook endgame, endgame tactic

Show solution

35... Rxe5 36. fxe5 Kf7

FEN: 6k1/1p4pp/8/pP1rR3/5P2/1P4PP/7K/8 b - - 1 35

Hard: White to move and win

a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

White to move and win. The opponent just played 40... Kc7.

Puzzle rating 2133

Hint

Theme: defensive move, zugzwang, pawn endgame

Show solution

41. gxf6 gxf6 42. Kd5 Kd7 43. f5

FEN: 8/2k3p1/5p2/6P1/3K1P2/8/8/8 w - - 1 41