Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 17 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 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 38... Kg6.
Puzzle rating 1270
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, queen endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
39. Qf5#
FEN: 8/6p1/1p4kp/2pQ4/1pP2PP1/1P5K/1q6/8 w - - 6 39
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 30. Bxc4.
Puzzle rating 1701
Hint
Theme: hanging piece, middlegame tactic
Show solution
30... Qxb4+ 31. Bb3 Qxd4+ 32. Rxd4 axb3
FEN: 5rk1/4q2p/4pppP/1p1b4/pNBQ1P2/6P1/PKP5/3R4 b - - 0 30
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 18... Rac8.
Puzzle rating 2050
Hint
Theme: attraction (decoy), interference, sacrifice
Show solution
19. Rxf7+ Kxf7 20. Bc4+ Ke8 21. Qxc8+
FEN: 2r4r/pp1R1pkp/5ppb/1BQ4b/4Pq2/5P1P/PPP2P2/R5K1 w - - 3 19