Chess puzzles for Monday, 13 July 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 42... f3.
Puzzle rating 1295
Hint
Theme: queen endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
43. Qe3+ Qxe3 44. fxe3
FEN: 8/8/6pk/p1P1p3/P3q3/1Q3p1P/5P2/6K1 w - - 0 43
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 35... Kd5.
Puzzle rating 1775
Hint
Theme: quiet move, zugzwang, advanced pawn
Show solution
36. Kc3 f4 37. gxf4 g6 38. f5 gxf5 39. f4 Ke4 40. Kxc4 Kxf4 41. d5 Kg3 42. d6 f4 43. d7
FEN: 8/6p1/8/3k1p1p/2pP3P/5PP1/3K4/8 w - - 1 36
Hard: Black to move and mate in 4
Black to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 28. Qxd5.
Puzzle rating 2341
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, attraction (decoy), sacrifice
Show solution
28... Qe3+ 29. Kh1 Rxh2+ 30. Kxh2 Qf2+ 31. Kh3 Qxg3#
FEN: 7k/2p5/7p/3Qb1q1/8/1PP2pN1/2r4P/3R2K1 b - - 0 28