Chess puzzles for Thursday, 30 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 41. gxf5.
Puzzle rating 956
Hint
Show solution
41... Rc1#
FEN: 5r2/pR6/8/5Pp1/2r5/4Pk2/P6Q/6K1 b - - 0 41
Medium: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 34... fxg6.
Puzzle rating 1517
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, dovetail mate, attraction (decoy)
Show solution
35. Qxf8+ Kh7 36. hxg6+ Kxg6 37. Qf5#
FEN: 5r1k/1p4p1/p5pp/5Q1P/qPrbP3/8/2b2RP1/5RK1 w - - 0 35
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 29. Re5.
Puzzle rating 2198
Hint
Theme: defensive move, rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
29... Rxe5 30. dxe5 f4
FEN: 4rk2/2p3p1/p6p/Pp2Rp2/3P4/5P1P/1P4P1/6K1 b - - 1 29