Chess puzzles for Monday, 18 May 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 37. f4.
Puzzle rating 1059
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
37... f5#
FEN: 8/5p1p/4k1p1/1p6/1P1RKP2/2r4P/6P1/8 b - - 0 37
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 17... Rxf2.
Puzzle rating 1567
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
18. Qxe4 dxe4 19. Rxd8+ Rxd8 20. Kxf2
FEN: r2q2k1/4p1bp/1p4p1/pB1pn3/P3n3/2P1N3/1PQ2rPP/R1BR2K1 w - - 0 18
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 59... Kd8.
Puzzle rating 2005
Hint
Theme: pawn endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
60. Ke6 g5 61. fxg5 fxg5 62. Kf5 Kc7 63. Kxg5 Kc6 64. Kxh4
FEN: 3k4/8/3K1pp1/2P5/5P1p/7P/8/8 w - - 2 60