Chess puzzles for Thursday, 19 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
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 17. Qh5.
Puzzle rating 1233
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, attacking f2/f7, middlegame tactic
Show solution
17... Qxf2+ 18. Kd1 Qxd2#
FEN: r3k2r/pp1bbpR1/1q2p2p/3p3Q/4n3/2NB1P1P/PPPB1P2/R3K3 b Qkq - 2 17
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 54... d3.
Puzzle rating 1651
Hint
Theme: endgame tactic
Show solution
55. Be5 Bxe5 56. fxe5
FEN: 7b/2B5/p6P/1pn2p2/2k2P2/P2p1K2/8/3B4 w - - 0 55
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 31... Qxa2.
Puzzle rating 2692
Hint
Theme: quiet move, defensive move, endgame tactic
Show solution
32. Nxg6+ Ke8 33. Ne5 b3+ 34. Kd3
FEN: r4k2/p7/6pp/3p4/1p1P1N1P/2P3R1/qPK2P2/6R1 w - - 0 32