Chess puzzles for Saturday, 18 April 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 21. Qd4.
Puzzle rating 1110
Hint
Theme: pin, middlegame tactic
Show solution
21... Bc5 22. Qxc5 Rxc5
FEN: 4kb1r/2q3p1/2p1p3/pr2P1B1/3Q1P2/8/PPP3PP/3R1RK1 b k - 1 21
Medium: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 25... Raf8.
Puzzle rating 1720
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Opera mate, clearance
Show solution
26. Qxg6+ hxg6 27. Rh8#
FEN: 5rk1/3npr1p/p2p2pQ/1b1P2P1/2pBPP2/5K2/qpP5/1R5R w - - 5 26
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 79. R5h3+.
Puzzle rating 2350
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, defensive move, rook endgame
Show solution
79... Kc4 80. Rxe2 Rxh3
FEN: 8/8/8/8/1p1p4/2rk3R/1K2p2R/8 b - - 1 79