Chess puzzles for Friday, 26 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 40. Nh4.
Puzzle rating 946
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, endgame tactic
Show solution
40... Rxh4#
FEN: 6k1/ppn4r/2p5/4Pp2/PP4rN/7K/5P2/1R4R1 b - - 7 40
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 17... Nxe4.
Puzzle rating 1825
Hint
Show solution
18. Bxe7 Qxe7 19. Nxe4
FEN: r2q1rk1/1b2bpp1/pp6/4p1BP/P2pn3/1B3QN1/1PP2P2/R3K2R w KQ - 0 18
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 12... Bf5.
Puzzle rating 2039
Hint
Theme: fork, attraction (decoy), opening tactic
Show solution
13. Bxf5 Rxf5 14. Qg6+ Kd7 15. Qxf5+
FEN: r2qkbQ1/ppp1pr2/2n5/3p1b2/3P4/5N1B/PP2PP2/RNB1K3 w Qq - 2 13