Chess puzzles for Thursday, 21 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 30. Qe7.
Puzzle rating 719
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, middlegame tactic
Show solution
30... Nf3#
FEN: 5r1k/4Qpp1/p6p/8/1p2P1Pn/2bB3b/2P2P1P/6KR b - - 2 30
Medium: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 20... Nxe5.
Puzzle rating 1500
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
21. Qxg7#
FEN: 4rrk1/ppq2ppp/2p2n2/3pnN2/3P1P2/2P3Q1/PP4PP/R3R1K1 w - - 0 21
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 54... Bh1.
Puzzle rating 2551
Hint
Theme: quiet move, promotion, advanced pawn
Show solution
55. Bxd5 Bxd5 56. Kxd5 b5 57. Ke6 b4 58. d5 b3 59. d6+ Kxc6 60. d7 Kc7 61. Ke7 b2 62. d8=Q+
FEN: 8/2k5/1pP5/3pK3/3P4/1B6/8/7b w - - 21 55