Chess puzzles for Friday, 22 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 20... Kd7.
Puzzle rating 796
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, epaulette mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
21. Qxf7#
FEN: r1qr2Q1/1ppk1p2/3p1p2/p1bPpN2/8/P2P3P/RPP2P2/4K2R w K - 11 21
Medium: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 24... Qe2.
Puzzle rating 1564
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, deflection, sacrifice
Show solution
25. Qxf7+ Rxf7 26. Rxd8+ Rf8 27. Rfxf8#
FEN: 3r1rk1/Q4ppp/4p3/8/8/7P/4q1P1/3R1R1K w - - 4 25
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 11... Nxe3.
Puzzle rating 2151
Hint
Theme: attacking f2/f7, opening tactic
Show solution
12. Bxh5 Nxd1 13. Bxf7+
FEN: r3kb1r/pppbpppp/8/6Nq/1n6/2N1n2P/PPP1BPP1/R2QK2R w KQkq - 0 12