Chess puzzles for Friday, 8 May 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 39... h5.
Puzzle rating 972
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, endgame tactic
Show solution
40. Bd3#
FEN: 4r2r/4n3/B4p2/3p1k1p/6R1/5P2/2P2K2/4R3 w - - 0 40
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 25... fxe6.
Puzzle rating 1831
Hint
Theme: clearance, middlegame tactic
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26. Qd7+ Kf6 27. Rd6 Qxd6 28. Qxd6
FEN: r5r1/1p2k3/1q2p2n/p6p/P4p2/8/1PPQR1P1/3R3K w - - 0 26
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 28... Bg7.
Puzzle rating 2353
Hint
Theme: pin, attacking f2/f7, middlegame tactic
Show solution
29. Qxd6+ Ke8 30. Rxf7 Qa1+ 31. Rf1
FEN: r4kr1/p4bb1/2pp3Q/8/8/2qB4/P1P3PP/5R1K w - - 2 29