Chess puzzles for Thursday, 25 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 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 14. Rxg1.
Puzzle rating 929
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, smothered mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
14... Nf2#
FEN: r6r/ppQnkppp/8/2bp4/2B1n3/8/PPPP2PP/RNB3RK b - - 0 14
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 30. Qc4.
Puzzle rating 1448
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
30... Bxe3+ 31. dxe3 Qxc4
FEN: 5rk1/5p1p/p1p5/4P1p1/PPQP1b2/2B1N2P/3Pq1P1/5RK1 b - - 3 30
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 25. Ng5.
Puzzle rating 2169
Hint
Theme: fork, middlegame tactic
Show solution
25... d4 26. Bxd4 Qb1+ 27. Qc1 Qxc1+ 28. Rxc1 Nxd4
FEN: 1r4k1/3b1pp1/2n1p1p1/1qPpP1N1/8/2B1Q3/5PPP/R5K1 b - - 4 25