Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 6 May 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 40. Kxb4.
Puzzle rating 1182
Hint
Theme: deflection, knight endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
40... a5+ 41. Kb3 Kxc5
FEN: 8/7p/p1k5/2N2pp1/1KP5/6P1/5P1P/8 b - - 0 40
Medium: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 25. Be4.
Puzzle rating 1672
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, back-rank mate, sacrifice
Show solution
25... Qc1+ 26. Nxc1 Rd1#
FEN: 3r3k/ppp3p1/4Q2p/6q1/4B3/3N4/PP3PPP/6K1 b - - 4 25
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 14. Rab1.
Puzzle rating 2301
Hint
Theme: hanging piece, middlegame tactic
Show solution
14... Bxe2 15. Rfc1 Qd3
FEN: 2kr1b1r/ppp3pp/2n2p2/4p3/Q1N5/2qb1NB1/P3BPPP/1R3RK1 b - - 1 14