Chess puzzles for Monday, 1 June 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 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 23. hxg3.
Puzzle rating 771
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
23... Rh1+ 24. Kg2 R8h2#
FEN: 2k4r/pp3p1r/2n1b3/1N1pPp2/3P1Pp1/1P4P1/P2Q1R2/R3N1K1 b - - 0 23
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 44... Rxf4.
Puzzle rating 1527
Hint
Theme: sacrifice, rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
45. Rxf4+ Kxf4 46. b4 cxb4 47. c5 dxc5 48. d6
FEN: 8/8/3p2p1/2pP1k2/2P2r2/1P6/K7/5R2 w - - 0 45
Hard: White to move and mate in 5
White to move and mate in 5. The opponent just played 36... Ra1.
Puzzle rating 2009
Hint
Theme: fork, sacrifice, endgame tactic
Show solution
37. Qc8+ Kh7 38. Ng5+ Kxh6 39. Qh8+ Kxg5 40. Qh4+ Kf5 41. Qf4#
FEN: 6k1/3n1p2/4p1pB/4P3/2QP4/5NP1/5PKP/rq6 w - - 1 37