Chess puzzles for Thursday, 23 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 30... Ra3.
Puzzle rating 747
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, epaulette mate, Opera mate
Show solution
31. Rf4#
FEN: 7r/5Rp1/1p2p1p1/3pB3/1P1Pk3/r3P3/2K2PPP/8 w - - 3 31
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 36. Kc2.
Puzzle rating 1432
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
36... Bxf2 37. Rxf2 Bxd3+ 38. Kxd3 Rxf2
FEN: 8/ppp1nr2/k7/4pb2/2P5/P2Pb1N1/1BK2R2/5R2 b - - 1 36
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 13... Bg7.
Puzzle rating 2394
Hint
Show solution
14. Nxf7 Kxf7 15. fxe5+ Kg6 16. Qd6+ Kh7 17. Rf7
FEN: r2qk2r/pp1nnbb1/2p5/4p1Np/4PP2/2N5/PPP1B1PP/R2Q1RK1 w kq - 1 14