Chess puzzles for Tuesday, 17 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 21... Qb7.
Puzzle rating 1249
Hint
Theme: deflection, middlegame tactic
Show solution
22. Rd8+ Rxd8 23. Qxb7
FEN: 1r2kb1r/1q3ppp/1B2pn2/8/8/5Q2/PP3PPP/3R1RK1 w k - 7 22
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 58. Kxd4.
Puzzle rating 1666
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, discovered check, clearance
Show solution
58... c2+ 59. Ke4 Bc3 60. Rc6 c1=Q
FEN: 8/8/4p2p/2R1P2P/3K2P1/2pP4/1b1k4/8 b - - 0 58
Hard: Black to move and mate in 4
Black to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 31. e8=Q.
Puzzle rating 2072
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, discovered check, double check
Show solution
31... Rf3+ 32. Kh4 g5+ 33. Kh5 Rh3+ 34. gxh3 Qxh3#
FEN: 2q1QBk1/p6p/5pp1/5r2/8/7K/4Q1PP/8 b - - 0 31