Chess puzzles for Tuesday, 31 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 27... Nxg7.
Puzzle rating 700
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Pillsbury’s mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
28. Rd8+ Ne8 29. Rxe8#
FEN: 6k1/1q3pnp/p1r1p3/1b2B3/4P3/1P3PP1/P6P/2RR2K1 w - - 0 28
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 30... Re7.
Puzzle rating 1748
Hint
Theme: fork, queen and rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
31. Qa8+ Kf7 32. Qf3+
FEN: 6k1/p3r1pp/2Q1p3/8/8/P1P5/1P3P1K/3r4 w - - 4 31
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 13. Nb5.
Puzzle rating 2054
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
13... Qa8 14. Rxc7 Rxb5
FEN: 3q1rk1/1Rp1bpp1/2npbn1p/rN2p3/4P3/P2P1N1P/2P1BPP1/2BQ1RK1 b - - 2 13