Chess puzzles for Tuesday, 21 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 50. Ka4.
Puzzle rating 908
Hint
Theme: skewer, queen endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
50... Qa1+ 51. Kb5 Qxa8
FEN: Q7/8/5p2/5k2/K7/1P6/8/5q2 b - - 2 50
Medium: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 33... Bb7.
Puzzle rating 1817
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, endgame tactic
Show solution
34. Ne8#
FEN: R7/1bkr2pp/1ppN1p2/2P5/1P6/2K4P/6P1/8 w - - 4 34
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 59. Nh1.
Puzzle rating 2216
Hint
Theme: trapped piece, defensive move, zugzwang
Show solution
59... Kf3 60. Kd4 Kg2 61. Ke3 Kxh1 62. Kf2 Kh2
FEN: 8/8/5p2/2K5/4Pk2/7p/8/7N b - - 8 59