Chess puzzles for Saturday, 16 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 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 28... Bxh6.
Puzzle rating 1108
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, double check, middlegame tactic
Show solution
29. Ng5+ Kh8 30. Rh7#
FEN: 4rr2/1p1R1N1k/1q4pb/5p2/8/1B3P2/PPP3PP/1K5R w - - 0 29
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 17. Be3.
Puzzle rating 1556
Hint
Theme: pin, trapped piece, middlegame tactic
Show solution
17... Qg2 18. Rg1 Qxb2 19. Qa3 Qxa1
FEN: r4rk1/pp3ppp/2b1p3/2Q5/4pP2/2P1B1Pq/PP5P/RN2K2R b KQ - 2 17
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 16. Qc4.
Puzzle rating 2190
Hint
Theme: capturing the defender, attacking f2/f7, middlegame tactic
Show solution
16... Nxf2 17. O-O Qxg3
FEN: 5rk1/p1p2ppp/2Bqp3/8/2QPn3/4PNP1/Pr3PP1/R3K2R b KQ - 2 16