Chess puzzles for Saturday, 25 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 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 19. Qd1.
Puzzle rating 807
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, back-rank mate, X-ray attack
Show solution
19... Qxd1+ 20. Rxd1 Rxd1#
FEN: 3rr1k1/ppp2ppp/8/4p3/8/2PR4/PP3PPP/RNqQ3K b - - 2 19
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 14. Bxc4.
Puzzle rating 1499
Hint
Theme: hanging piece, middlegame tactic
Show solution
14... Nxc4 15. Qa4+ Qc6 16. Qxc6+ bxc6
FEN: r1b1k2r/pp4pp/1q2pp2/n7/2BPN3/2P1P2P/PP3PPR/1R1QK3 b kq - 0 14
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 20. Rf2.
Puzzle rating 2310
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
20... O-O 21. Qe2 Qxe2 22. Nxh6+ gxh6
FEN: 3rk2r/1pp1nNp1/p6p/8/3P4/2P1q2P/PP3RP1/R2Q2K1 b k - 2 20