Chess puzzles for Tuesday, 26 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 22... Kh8.
Puzzle rating 1126
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Arabian mate, kingside attack
Show solution
23. Qxh7+ Qxh7 24. Rxh7#
FEN: r1b2r1k/pp2q2p/1b3Np1/4p3/8/P1PB3Q/1P3PP1/R3K2R w KQ - 4 23
Medium: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 19. Qxd6.
Puzzle rating 1531
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, discovered check, double check
Show solution
19... Rh1+ 20. Kxg2 Nxe3+ 21. Kxh1 Qg2#
FEN: N2k3r/pp1b2q1/3Q1p2/8/2P2Bn1/4PN2/PP2BPp1/R4RK1 b - - 0 19
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 24... fxe5.
Puzzle rating 2603
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
25. Rxd8+ Rxd8 26. Rxf7 Rd1+ 27. Rf1+ Kh8 28. Rxd1 Bxg2+ 29. Kg1
FEN: r2r2k1/1b3p1p/pp5B/4p3/2B5/1P6/q1P3PP/3R1R1K w - - 0 25