Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 20 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 32... Ra1.
Puzzle rating 918
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, back-rank mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
33. Bd6+ Ka8 34. Rc8#
FEN: 1k6/pp6/6n1/PP2p1p1/2R1PpP1/B4P2/4K1Br/r7 w - - 2 33
Medium: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 26... Rfd8.
Puzzle rating 1653
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
27. Qh8+ Kf7 28. Ne5#
FEN: 2rr2k1/pp2q2p/1b2p1p1/4Qp2/1PN5/P5P1/1B4KP/5R2 w - - 2 27
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 13. Nxe6.
Puzzle rating 2432
Hint
Theme: fork, intermezzo (zwischenzug), hanging piece
Show solution
13... Nxd3+ 14. Ke2 fxe6
FEN: r2r2k1/ppq1ppbp/4Nnp1/2Ppn3/1PP5/P2BP2P/1B1N1PP1/R2QK2R b KQ - 0 13