Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 1 July 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 51. Kf5.
Puzzle rating 1153
Hint
Theme: deflection, promotion, advanced pawn
Show solution
51... Rc5+ 52. Rxc5 b1=Q
FEN: 8/5k2/7p/1R3Kp1/4P3/5P1P/1pr5/8 b - - 3 51
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 21... Bg4.
Puzzle rating 1880
Hint
Show solution
22. Bxf6 Qxf6 23. Bxg4
FEN: 1r4k1/pp3pp1/5n1p/2N5/1P4bq/P4B2/1B3PP1/2RR2K1 w - - 2 22
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 38. R3e2.
Puzzle rating 2599
Hint
Theme: rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
38... Rxe2 39. Rxe2 Rxe2 40. Kxe2 Kf6 41. Kd3 Ke5 42. Ke3 f5 43. exf5 Kxf5
FEN: 8/4pp2/6k1/3P3p/4P1pP/8/r1r1R1P1/4RK2 b - - 3 38