Chess puzzles for Friday, 5 June 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 33... Ne3.
Puzzle rating 1141
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Pillsbury’s mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
34. Rd8+ Ke7 35. Re4#
FEN: 5k2/2B2p1p/5p2/1p3P2/6R1/4n3/1r2r1PP/3R3K w - - 6 34
Medium: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 38... Rxg7.
Puzzle rating 1550
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Arabian mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
39. Rh6+ Rh7 40. Rxh7#
FEN: 4r2k/6r1/2p2NR1/1p4N1/1n1P4/1P6/1n1R1PPK/q7 w - - 0 39
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 44. Ng5.
Puzzle rating 2096
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
44... Qf2+ 45. Qxf2 Rxf2+ 46. Rxf2 Rxf2+
FEN: 5r1k/pp3r2/1b3qp1/6Np/2P4P/4p1P1/PP2Q1K1/3R1R2 b - - 10 44