Chess puzzles for Saturday, 21 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 21. b3.
Puzzle rating 982
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, queenside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
21... Qa3+ 22. Kb1 Qb2#
FEN: r4rk1/1p4p1/p1bpp1Pp/5P1P/1qn2P2/1PN4B/P1P1Q3/2KR3R b - - 0 21
Medium: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 34... f6.
Puzzle rating 1622
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, promotion, advanced pawn
Show solution
35. Re8+ Kf7 36. g8=Q#
FEN: 6k1/2p3Pp/3p1p1P/2p3P1/5q2/2P5/1pK5/4R3 w - - 0 35
Hard: White to move and mate in 5
White to move and mate in 5. The opponent just played 46... Rg1.
Puzzle rating 2309
Hint
Theme: exposed king, endgame tactic
Show solution
47. Ra7+ Kd8 48. Ne6+ Kc8 49. Nd6+ Kb8 50. Rb7+ Ka8 51. Nc7#
FEN: 8/3k3p/R7/1p6/3NN3/5K1P/pr6/6r1 w - - 4 47