Chess puzzles for Sunday, 12 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 31. Qxd8.
Puzzle rating 1240
Hint
Theme: intermezzo (zwischenzug), hanging piece, queen and rook endgame
Show solution
31... Rxh1+ 32. Kd2 Rxd8
FEN: 2rQ3r/6k1/6p1/5p2/3P4/2P1P3/P1R2PP1/4K2R b K - 0 31
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 44... Kf6.
Puzzle rating 1679
Hint
Theme: defensive move, zugzwang, pawn endgame
Show solution
45. fxg5+ Kxg5 46. Ke5
FEN: 8/8/2p2k2/6p1/1P2KP1p/7P/8/8 w - - 1 45
Hard: White to move and mate in 4
White to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 17... exd5.
Puzzle rating 2207
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, Pillsbury’s mate, discovered check
Show solution
18. Rxg7+ Kh8 19. Rg8+ Kxg8 20. Rg1+ Bg5+ 21. Rxg5#
FEN: r4rk1/pp2bppp/2n5/2pp4/8/2B2N2/PPP2P1P/2KR2R1 w - - 0 18