Chess puzzles for Thursday, 26 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 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 11... hxg6.
Puzzle rating 798
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, middlegame tactic
Show solution
12. Qxg6#
FEN: r2qkb1r/p1pnp3/1p4p1/5p1Q/3P4/2N5/PPP2PbP/R1B1K2R w KQkq - 0 12
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 18. Rfe1.
Puzzle rating 1516
Hint
Theme: trapped piece, middlegame tactic
Show solution
18... Ra8 19. Qxa8 Qxa8
FEN: 1r1q1rk1/Q3bppp/1p1n4/8/2bP4/4BNP1/1P2PPBP/2R1R1K1 b - - 2 18
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 28... Nf7.
Puzzle rating 2218
Hint
Theme: queenside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
29. Qb5+ Qb6 30. Qxb6+ axb6 31. Nxf7
FEN: 1k1r3r/p1q2n2/Q2N4/3pP1p1/7p/5PbP/PP2R3/1K5R w - - 1 29