Chess puzzles for Sunday, 31 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 24... h5.
Puzzle rating 963
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
25. Rxh5#
FEN: r4r2/5p1k/8/p1pp1R1p/6R1/2P5/2P3PP/6K1 w - - 0 25
Medium: Black to move and mate in 4
Black to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 27. Kg2.
Puzzle rating 1840
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, fork, deflection
Show solution
27... Qe2+ 28. Rf2 Rh2+ 29. Kxh2 Qxf2+ 30. Ng2 Rh8#
FEN: 2k3rr/3n4/pp6/3QP3/3P2p1/4q1P1/PP4K1/3RNR2 b - - 2 27
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 52. Rxd4+.
Puzzle rating 2062
Hint
Theme: advanced pawn, endgame tactic
Show solution
52... Kxd4 53. h5 Ke5 54. h6 Kf6 55. Ke1 a3 56. h7 Kg7 57. h8=Q+ Kxh8 58. Kd2 a2
FEN: 8/8/8/3k4/p2R3P/6P1/5K2/8 b - - 0 52