Chess puzzles for Friday, 1 May 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 40... Kc7.
Puzzle rating 1048
Hint
Theme: deflection, endgame tactic
Show solution
41. Qe7+ Kb6 42. Qxd8+
FEN: 3r4/2k5/p1p1Qp2/6q1/4p1B1/2Pb2P1/1P3P1P/6K1 w - - 6 41
Medium: White to move and mate in 4
White to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 38... dxe5.
Puzzle rating 1633
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, pin, attraction (decoy)
Show solution
39. Rxh5+ Kg8 40. Rxh8+ Kxh8 41. Qh6+ Kg8 42. Qg7#
FEN: 3q3b/pp1r1p1k/4rPp1/2p1p2p/2P2Q2/7R/PPB3PP/5R1K w - - 0 39
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 18... Rf8.
Puzzle rating 2125
Hint
Theme: capturing the defender, kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
19. Ne7+ Qxe7 20. Bxe7 Rxf2 21. Bxe6+
FEN: 5rk1/pppq2pp/3pb3/3Np1B1/4P3/1B5r/PPP2Q2/R5K1 w - - 2 19