Chess puzzles for Friday, 17 April 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 33... Qxc3.
Puzzle rating 795
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, dovetail mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
34. Qa4#
FEN: r7/p4p1p/1p6/1kb5/5Q2/2q4P/5PP1/R5K1 w - - 0 34
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 26... Rd5.
Puzzle rating 1861
Hint
Theme: pin, clearance, endgame tactic
Show solution
27. h6 g6 28. Rxd5 exd5 29. Qe5
FEN: 5rk1/5ppp/4p3/p2rR2P/q7/6Q1/5PP1/4R1K1 w - - 1 27
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 18... Qxb2.
Puzzle rating 2142
Hint
Theme: pin, quiet move, middlegame tactic
Show solution
19. Rd1 Kc8 20. Qxd7+ Kb8 21. Qd6+
FEN: b2k3r/p2p1pp1/1pnQ3p/4P3/8/2R5/Pq3PPP/R5K1 w - - 0 19