Chess puzzles for Thursday, 18 June 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 45... Kg6.
Puzzle rating 741
Hint
Theme: queen endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
46. Qc6+ Qxc6 47. bxc6
FEN: 8/8/6k1/1P2pppp/4q3/6PK/5P1P/2Q5 w - - 1 46
Medium: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 23... Bxd3.
Puzzle rating 1516
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, attraction (decoy), sacrifice
Show solution
24. Qxf8+ Kxf8 25. Rc8+ Qd8 26. Rxd8#
FEN: 5rk1/4Qppp/p7/1r6/N2q1nP1/1P1b3P/P4P2/2R1R1K1 w - - 0 24
Hard: Black to move and mate in 5
Black to move and mate in 5. The opponent just played 29. fxe4.
Puzzle rating 2017
Hint
Theme: back-rank mate, sacrifice, middlegame tactic
Show solution
29... Qc5+ 30. bxc5 Bxc5+ 31. Rhe3 Bxe3+ 32. Kh1 Rf1+ 33. Rxf1 Rxf1#
FEN: 5rk1/1Q2b2p/3q1rp1/3p4/BP2P3/P6R/6PP/4R1K1 b - - 0 29