Chess puzzles for Sunday, 24 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 19... Bxb4.
Puzzle rating 833
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, smothered mate, queenside attack
Show solution
20. Nxa7#
FEN: 1nkr3r/pppq1p2/8/1N1P1p2/1bP5/6p1/PP2BPPN/R4RK1 w - - 0 20
Medium: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 31... Kf6.
Puzzle rating 1799
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, dovetail mate, clearance
Show solution
32. Nxh7+ Qxh7 33. Qg5#
FEN: 3rr3/1p3p1p/p3bk2/2Q3N1/1P6/P5R1/5P2/1q1BK3 w - - 12 32
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 32... c3.
Puzzle rating 2431
Hint
Theme: fork, pin, interference
Show solution
33. Rb8 Qxb8 34. Rxg7+ Rxg7 35. Qxb8+ Kf7 36. Qxa7+ Kf6 37. Qxc5
FEN: 3q2k1/p1r3pp/4p3/2rpQp2/8/2p3RP/P4PP1/1R4K1 w - - 0 33