Chess puzzles for Thursday, 16 April 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 16... Nbc6.
Puzzle rating 1193
Hint
Theme: fork, middlegame tactic
Show solution
17. Nd6+ Qxd6 18. Qxd6
FEN: r2q3r/pb2nkpp/1pn5/1N1pQ1P1/3P3P/3p1P2/PPP5/R3K1NR w KQ - 2 17
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 45... Kd7.
Puzzle rating 1573
Hint
Theme: bishop endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
46. Bb5+ Kd8 47. Bxe8
FEN: 4b3/p2k4/5Kp1/P4p2/2B2P2/8/8/8 w - - 11 46
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 27. Ne6.
Puzzle rating 2154
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
27... Rf2+ 28. Kb3 Qd2 29. Qxh7+ Kxh7
FEN: 5rk1/2b2rpp/1p1pN3/pPpP2q1/P1P1Q3/6P1/2K4P/5R1R b - - 2 27