Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 22 April 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and mate in 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 18. Rxf7.
Puzzle rating 1159
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, pin, middlegame tactic
Show solution
18... Ng3#
FEN: r3r1k1/ppp2R2/1b5Q/3PP2n/2B3bq/2N5/PP4PP/R6K b - - 0 18
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 25. Rxd3.
Puzzle rating 1453
Hint
Theme: pin, hanging piece, middlegame tactic
Show solution
25... Rxb1 26. Rd1 Bf4
FEN: 6k1/5ppp/3bp3/3p1n2/1P1P4/2PR1N1P/5PP1/rNB3K1 b - - 0 25
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 28. Qe3.
Puzzle rating 2320
Hint
Theme: pin, quiet move, middlegame tactic
Show solution
28... Rdf7 29. Qf2 Rxf3 30. exf3 Rxf3
FEN: 8/3r2k1/3p3p/4p1p1/2P2r2/2PPQNq1/P3P3/4RK1R b - - 1 28