Chess puzzles for Monday, 29 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 17... Qd8.
Puzzle rating 973
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
18. Qg4+ Kh8 19. Qg7#
FEN: r1bq1rk1/3p1p1p/pbp1pP2/8/7N/8/PPP2PPP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 1 18
Medium: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 27... Rf6.
Puzzle rating 1641
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, attraction (decoy), sacrifice
Show solution
28. Rh8+ Kxh8 29. Qh7#
FEN: 2r3k1/1p4p1/4prQ1/p2p4/3q4/PP1B1P2/2P2P2/1K5R w - - 1 28
Hard: White to move and mate in 5
White to move and mate in 5. The opponent just played 24... Kh8.
Puzzle rating 2370
Hint
Theme: sacrifice, kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
25. Rf6 Bh2+ 26. Kh1 Kg8 27. Rxh6 gxh6 28. Qxh6 Rd8 29. Qh7+ Kf8 30. Qxf7#
FEN: rq3r1k/ppb2pp1/2p1p2p/2P3NQ/3P4/7P/PP4P1/5RK1 w - - 5 25