Chess puzzles for Friday, 20 March 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 22... Bxb2.
Puzzle rating 997
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. Qh8#
FEN: 2r3k1/2rq1pp1/p2p3p/1p1P4/4Q1b1/1P1BR3/Pb3PPP/R5K1 w - - 0 23
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 14... Qxf3.
Puzzle rating 1790
Hint
Show solution
15. Rxe7+ Kf8 16. gxf3
FEN: r1b1k2r/2bpn1pp/2p5/p5B1/Pp1p4/1B1P1q2/1PP2PPP/RN2R1K1 w kq - 0 15
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 22... Qf3.
Puzzle rating 2282
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, sacrifice, middlegame tactic
Show solution
23. Qb7+ Kd6 24. Nc4+ dxc4 25. e5+ Kxe5 26. Qxf3
FEN: r6r/3k1ppp/p3p3/3p4/1Q2P3/N1P2q1b/PP1K1P1P/R2R4 w - - 4 23